State Rep. Reggie Miller (D-Van Buren Twp) chairs the House Agriculture Committee on Dec. 12, 2024, at the Anderson House Office Building in Lansing.
LANSING, Mich., Jan. 27, 2025 — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed House Bill 4485 into law last week, extending the statute of limitations for second- and third-degree criminal sexual assault cases. This new law extends the time for survivors to receive justice both in civil and criminal courts.
“We need to hold perpetrators of criminal sexual assault accountable, and this new law will ensure just that,” said state Rep. Reggie Miller (D-Van Buren Twp.), who sponsored the bill. “Extending the statute of limitations removes barriers that have long prevented survivors from seeking justice and recognizes the hurdles they face when coming forward. Every survivor’s timeline in seeking justice is different, and this law ensures they can do so at their own pace, protecting their mental health and wellbeing.”
“As a sexual assault victim in my teen years, HB 4485 becoming law in my home state of Michigan has given me hope for the countless victims who carry this life altering trauma,” said Liz Lee Schullo, a former Michigan resident. “Decades later I have now found my voice, and I refuse to stay silent.”
Many recent instances in Michigan highlight the need to extend the statute of limitations, most notably the abuse of athletes under the guise of medical treatment by Larry Nassar at Michigan State University. The survivors bravely sought justice years after his abuse, and he was sentenced to life in prison.
“For years, survivors of sexual abuse have been asking the legislature to meaningfully expand access to justice to every survivor,” said state Rep. Julie Brixie (D-Meridian Twp.). “I am so proud to have supported this law, which recognizes the significant barriers childhood survivors face when disclosing their abuse. I am hopeful that the legislature will continue reforming Michigan’s narrow statute of limitation and give every survivor an opportunity to seek justice.”
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