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S 1884 Became law

Bars courts from dismissing Nazi-looted art recovery claims based on the passage of time or other non-merits defenses, and lets such claims proceed regardless of the victim's nationality.

Official title: Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2025

Outcome Public Law 119-82
Timeline each lane is a chamber; dates pull from congress.gov actions
House
Received 11-DEC-2025
Passed 16-MAR-2026
Senate
Introduced 22-MAY-2025
Referred 22-MAY-2025
Approved by committee 06-NOV-2025
Reported 18-NOV-2025
On the calendar 18-NOV-2025
Passed 10-DEC-2025
President
Presented 02-APR-2026
Signed 13-APR-2026
Became law 13-APR-2026
Key points
  • Prohibits courts from applying defenses such as laches, adverse possession, and the act of state doctrine to otherwise timely claims under the 2016 Act
  • Treats these claims as involving rights violations under international law for purposes of foreign state immunity, regardless of the victim's nationality
  • Allows process to be served nationwide in any federal or state court where the case is brought
  • Applies to claims pending on the date of enactment, including those on appeal, and to claims filed afterward
AI-generated from the Public Law text of 14-APR-2026 · verify · report an error
Official CRS summary

Current. The Congressional Research Service's summary covers the bill's latest wording (Public Law, 13-APR-2026).

CRS is the Library of Congress's nonpartisan research office. Read it on congress.gov
Committee referrals (1) Policy area

Law

Sponsor John Cornyn (R-TX) Cosponsors · 21
■ 11 D■ 10 R