HB 1378 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Civil Actions - Child Sexual Abuse

HB 1378 modifies Maryland law to set a deadline for filing civil claims against the state or local government units for child sexual abuse that occurred when the victim was a minor. Specifically, it prohibits such claims from being filed on or after January 1, 2026, while maintaining the existing rule allowing claims to be filed at any time for non-government defendants. The bill does not change the $1.5 million cap on noneconomic damages for certain claims filed before October 1, 2023. This directly affects victims seeking to sue state or local government entities for historical abuse. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

Apr 2025

Introduced Feb 7, 2025 Signed Apr 22, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Third - Civil Actions - Child Sexual Abuse → Enrolled - Civil Actions - Child Sexual Abuse · 3 edits · Apr 22, 2025

MINOR

The bill was converted from a draft version to an enrolled version, adding official proofreading and governor approval lines. Substantively, the bill reorganizes the list of repealed and reenacted sections to prioritize child sexual abuse laws over state government liability limits. It also adds a new rule stating that italics in the text indicate amendments made by the other legislative chamber or a conference committee.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on civil actions for child sexual abuse and government liability limits, but the internal structure of the repealed statutes has been reordered to place child abuse provisions first.

TECHNICAL

The bill header was updated to reflect its status as an 'Enrolled Bill' with added proofreading and governor seal lines, indicating it is ready for final execution.

The list of repealed and reenacted sections was reordered; child sexual abuse statutes (Courts and Education) now appear before state government liability statutes.

A new explanatory note was added to clarify that italicized text represents amendments from the other legislative chamber or a conference committee.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 20, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 22, 2025

How they voted

35–7

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 46

Mar 20, 2025

D Democratic33

30 Yea 3

90% Yea

R Republican13

5 Yea 7 Nay 1

53% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 22, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 104

executive

Apr 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Enrolled

lower

Apr 5, 2025

Introduced

House Concurs Senate Amendments

lower

Apr 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Apr 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Motion Rules Suspend Two Readings Same Day Const/Rule 24 (Senator King) Adopted

upper

Apr 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Apr 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings

upper

Apr 4, 2025

Committee

Rereferred to Judicial Proceedings

upper

Apr 4, 2025

Committee

Referred Rules

upper

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Introduced

Floor Amendment {

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Motion Special Order until 04/03 (Delegate Clippinger) Adopted

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary

lower

Mar 22, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (89-41-9)

house of delegates

Mar 20, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (35-7-4)

senate

Feb 7, 2025

Committee

First Reading Judiciary

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors