S. 1884 · Where this bill is now
Became law
Public Law 119-82, Apr 13, 2026
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryExtends legal time to recover Nazi-looted art
This law makes it easier for people to pursue lawsuits to recover artwork and other property stolen between 1933 and 1945 due to Nazi persecution. It removes the overall deadline for filing claims (though claimants still have six years after discovering what was taken), allows courts to hear cases against foreign countries even if the victims aren't citizens of those countries, and prevents defendants from using certain legal defenses like claiming too much time has passed.
How it affects you
If you or your family lost art or property during the Holocaust, this law gives you a clearer path to recover it through the courts. For others, this primarily affects the recovery efforts of Holocaust survivors and their descendants seeking to reclaim their stolen possessions.
Read the official summary (Public Law, Apr 13, 2026)
Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2025
This act permanently extends and expands judicial authority under the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2016. The law allows and establishes procedures for civil claims and causes of action to recover artwork and other property lost between 1933 and 1945 because of Nazi persecution.
Among the changes, the act removes the deadline for filing civil claims or causes of action. Currently, the filing deadline is December 31, 2026. (Claims must still be filed within six years of the claimant's discovery of the property in question.)
The act permits courts to exercise jurisdiction over civil claims or causes of action against a foreign state without regard to the nationality or citizenship of the alleged victim. The art or property at issue must still have a connection to the foreign state's commercial activities in the United States.
Additionally, the act authorizes nationwide service of process, which allows courts to exercise personal jurisdiction over defendants in any judicial district where they may be found, reside, have an agent, or transact business.
Finally, the act limits the defenses that may be asserted against civil claims or causes of action, including by prohibiting
• defenses based on the passage of time, including equitable defenses such as laches (i.e., unreasonable delays); and
• discretionary bases for dismissal that are unrelated to the merits of the claim, including international comity (i.e., deference to the laws of other countries).
These changes apply to pending and future civil claims or causes of action.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 1884
AN ACT
Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) · Introduced May 22, 2025 · Law · 4 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Apr 13, 2026: “Became Public Law No: 119-82.”