Laws & Legislation

A lawsuit has been filed against Palmetto Pee Dee Behavioral Health, a now-defunct facility in Florence, South Carolina, over accusations of repeated physical and sexual abuse allegedly suffered by a teenage boy during his stay at the center in 2014. The boy, then 15 years old, claims that the facility, which is no longer operational,

On July 15, 2025, a federal judge issued a ruling that temporarily halted the enforcement of Washington’s controversial new law, which would mandate clergy members, including priests, to report instances of child abuse disclosed to them, even during the Sacrament of Confession. Judge Estudillo’s decision to block the enforcement of the law, at least temporarily,

In a landmark vote, the Rhode Island House of Representatives approved a bill aimed at providing survivors of childhood sexual abuse with a vital opportunity to seek justice. The legislation, passed with a 67 to 5 vote along party lines, paves the way for survivors to file lawsuits against individuals and institutions that failed to

Michigan Senate passed a critical package of bills aimed at extending the statute of limitations for survivors of sexual assault, granting them more time to seek justice. The five-bill package, which passed with bipartisan support by a 25-9 vote, would allow survivors up to 10 years after the assault to file civil lawsuits, with an

In a significant ruling on May 2, 2025, the judge overseeing the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy case granted victims of childhood sexual abuse a temporary window to file civil lawsuits against the Archdiocese and affiliated entities. The decision comes as Maryland’s Child Victims Act (CVA) amendments are set to change the compensation landscape

A new piece of legislation aimed at strengthening protections for minors in juvenile detention centers is one step away from becoming law. Senate Bill 870, also known as the Accountability, Transparency, and Protection for Exploited Youth Act, has passed through the legislative process and is now heading to the governor’s desk for approval. Authored by

Governor Jared Polis has signed a bipartisan bill into law aimed at improving safety in Colorado’s rideshare industry, a move sparked by a surge in sexual assault incidents and increasing public outcry. The new law, known as House Bill 1291, mandates that rideshare companies, including Uber and Lyft, enforce stricter safety regulations and conduct more

In a move that has sparked widespread concern, Governor Patrick Morrisey has used his line-item veto power to cut millions of dollars in funding, including crucial resources for the state’s already strained foster care system. These cuts come as West Virginia continues to face a foster care crisis, with too many children already in precarious

UPDATED May 7, 2025 The Colorado Senate has given preliminary approval to a newly amended bill aimed at improving safety for users of ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft. Senate Bill 25-1291, known as the Accountability, Transparency, and Protection for Exploited Youth Act, was introduced following concerns over the safety of riders using these services.