N.J. sexual-assault victims will soon have more time to sue abusers under bill that just passed

Despite fierce opposition from the Catholic Church, state legislators passed a bill today giving victims of sexual assault in New Jersey significantly more time to file lawsuits against their abusers.

Gov. Phil Murphy is expected to sign the bill, which had been stalled in the state Legislature for more than two decades.

The state Assembly voted 71-0 with five abstentions Monday to approve the measure (S477), which would vastly expand the current two-year statute of limitations for such civil suits to seven years in most cases.