School sex abuse bill going to Newsom. Will he sign the ‘hard-won’ compromise?

California lawmakers have sent Governor Gavin Newsom a bill aimed at easing the financial strain on schools and local governments facing lawsuits over child sex abuse, after the state eliminated the statute of limitations on such claims. CalMatters reports the measure, Senate Bill 577, skips the damage caps schools wanted but instead raises the bar for older survivors — those over forty, or with pre-2024 cases where records were destroyed — who must now show 'clear and convincing' evidence and proof the institution knew of the abuse. The bill also mandates new prevention plans and conduct codes for public institutions by January 2028. Survivor advocates call it a hard-won compromise, though some warn the tougher evidence standard could shut out the very people it's meant to protect. Newsom has until September thirtieth to sign or veto it.

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