For many survivors of childhood sexual abuse, justice has felt distant because the law ran out of time before they were ready to step forward. That painful reality has long defined the experience of survivors in Rhode Island, particularly those abused by clergy and whose cases involved institutions that spent decades evading accountability. But this week brought new hope for those who still deserve justice.
On June 8, 2026, the Rhode Island General Assembly officially sent landmark legislation to Governor Dan McKee's desk. The bill, sponsored by Representative Carol Hagan McEntee and Senator Mark McKenney, extends the window in which survivors of childhood sexual abuse can sue the institutions, organizations, and individuals responsible for enabling or covering up that abuse. Governor McKee is expected to sign it without issue.
This is a victory years in the making, and it belongs to every survivor who refused to be silenced. At Decof, Mega & Quinn, P.C., we are truly moved by the success of this legislation, especially because Attorney Mark Decof, Attorney Jeffrey Mega, and Attorney Mike Quinn have been long-standing, outspoken supporters of it.
What the Legislation Does
Once signed, the legislation will open a two-year civil lawsuit revival window beginning July 1, 2026, and closing June 30, 2028. The window applies retroactively up to 35 years, giving survivors who previously had no legal recourse a meaningful opportunity to pursue justice.
The bill was amended during the legislative process to address constitutional concerns. The revised version preserves prior court judgments, meaning claims previously dismissed under the old statute of limitations cannot be revived, and establishes a process for calculating prejudgment interest on revived claims, modeled after a similar process already in place for medical malpractice cases.
The legislation grew out of a sweeping 370-page report released by Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha, which identified 72 credibly accused priests within the Diocese of Providence with cases dating as far back as 1950. The report laid bare decades of institutional cover-up and gave renewed urgency to advocates who had long argued that survivors deserved more time and more legal access to confront their abusers and the institutions that shielded them. The Senate passed the bill 37–0.
Standing with Survivors
Over the course of years, advocates, survivors, lawmakers, and legal professionals worked relentlessly to move this legislation forward, pushing through constitutional debates, legislative delays, and institutional resistance.
Our own lead attorneys, including Attorneys Decof, Mega, and Quinn, have been proud to stand alongside those advocates and survivors throughout this effort. As seen in WPRI's recent coverage of the legislation reaching Governor McKee's desk, Attorney Mega was even present for this hard-earned milestone, which we feel is a reflection of his personal commitment and our firm's dedication to those who have survived sexual abuse and found the courage to demand accountability.
We have long fought for people who spent years carrying the weight of abuse before finally stepping forward. We believe the law should honor that courage however it can.
What This Legislation Means If You Are an Abuse Survivor
If you or someone you love survived childhood sexual abuse and previously believed too much time had passed to pursue legal action, this legislation may change what is possible for you. The revival window opens July 1, 2026, and closes June 30, 2028, and given the limited timeframe, speaking with an attorney as early as possible is important.
At Decof, Mega & Quinn, P.C., we represent survivors of childhood sexual abuse with the seriousness, compassion, sensitivity, and tenacity every case deserves. The institutions responsible for enabling this abuse are powerful, but we have spent decades proving that powerful institutions are not above the law.
If you are ready to take that first step, we are ready to stand with you. Contact our office for a free and confidential consultation by calling (401) 200-4059 or by reaching out to us online.