HB 973 - SB 1070
FISCAL NOTE
Fiscal Review Committee
Tennessee General Assembly
March 11, 2025
Fiscal Analyst: Arielle Woodmore | Email: arielle.woodmore@capitol.tn.gov | Phone: 615-741-2564
HB 973 - SB 1070
SUMMARY OF BILL: Extends the statue of limitations for certain child sex abuse offenses,
from 25 years to 30 years, after the victim turns 18 years of age. Extends the statute of limitations
for civil action for certain child sex abuse offenses, from 15 years to 30 years from the date the
victim becomes 18 years of age. Applies to offenses that occur after July 1, 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT:
NOT SIGNIFICANT
Assumptions:
• The proposed legislation extends the statute of limitations for 24 specified child sexual
abuse offenses, from 25 to 30 years, after the victim becomes 18 years of age. After 30
years, the prosecution is required to offer admissible and credible evidence corroborating
the allegations or similar acts by the defendant.
• Extending the statute of limitations for specific sexual abuse offenses committed against a
child may lead to additional incarceration costs; however, the number of such additional
convictions as a result of this legislation is estimated to be not significant, and thus, the
fiscal impact from repealing the statute of limitations for such crimes is estimated to be not
significant.
• Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-116(b) a civil action for an injury or illness based on
child sexual abuse that occurred when the injured person was a minor is required to be
brought:
o For child sexual abuse that occurred before July 1, 2019, but was not discovered at
the time of the abuse, within three years from the time of discovery of the abuse by
the injured person; or
o For child sexual abuse that occurred on or after July 1, 2019, within the later of:
▪ 15 years from the date the person becomes 18 years of age;
▪ Within three years from the time of discovery of the abuse by the injured
person if the injury or illness was not discovered at the time of the abuse.
• Any impact to the court system resulting from extending the statute of limitation for civil
child sexual abuse actions is estimated to be not significant.
HB 973 - SB 1070 2
CERTIFICATION:
The information contained herein is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
Bojan Savic, Executive Director