The bill H.589, introduced by Representative Holcombe, proposes the establishment of a six-year statute of repose for civil actions arising from improvements to real property. Specifically, it stipulates that any civil action for personal injury or property damage due to deficiencies in the creation of such improvements—including design, planning, and construction—must be initiated within six years following the substantial completion of the improvement. The bill also clarifies that this six-year limitation does not apply to cases involving fraudulent misrepresentations or concealment of material facts, which are governed by a different section of the law.

Additionally, the bill defines "substantial completion" as the point at which construction is sufficiently finished for the property to be used as intended. In cases of phased projects with multiple completion dates, the six-year period for actions related to systems serving the entire project will commence at the substantial completion of each phase. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.