To clarify the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2016, to appropriately limit the application of defenses based on the passage of time and other non-merits defenses to claims under that Act.

This bill strengthens the 2016 law that helps people recover art and other property stolen by the Nazis. It tells courts to decide these cases based on the facts, not throw them out for technical reasons like “too much time has passed.” The goal is to make it easier for families to get back what was taken from them during the Holocaust.

It also makes clear that claims can be brought no matter the person’s citizenship, and it treats these cases as involving violations of international law, which can matter when foreign governments or museums are involved. The bill allows nationwide service of legal papers and applies to cases already in court as well as new ones.

• Who is affected: Holocaust survivors and their families; museums, galleries, auction houses, private collectors, and some foreign institutions.
• What changes: Blocks time-based defenses (like laches or claiming ownership just because time passed) and other non-merits dismissals (like certain “act of state” or “forum” arguments); treats these claims as violations of international law for U.S. rules about suing foreign states; allows nationwide service of process.
• When: Takes effect at enactment and applies to pending and future cases.