Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act

Full Title:
Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2025

Summary#

The Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2025 updates the 2016 law about recovering art and other property lost because of Nazi persecution. It says courts should allow claims to be decided on their merits and it blocks certain defenses and dismissal grounds that rely on the passage of time or other non-merits reasons. The law also treats covered claims as involving violations of international law for purposes of foreign state immunity rules, allows nationwide service of process, and applies to suits pending on the law's enactment date as well as to new suits. The Act was approved on April 13, 2026.

What it means for you#

  • Survivors or heirs can bring or continue lawsuits to recover art or property lost during the covered period without some time-based or discretionary defenses blocking the case.
  • Defendants cannot use defenses based solely on the passage of time, such as laches or adverse possession, or other discretionary dismissal doctrines like the act-of-state doctrine, forum non conveniens, or international comity.
  • Claims covered by the Act are treated as involving rights violated under international law for purposes of foreign state immunity rules, regardless of the alleged victim's nationality.
  • Plaintiffs may serve process anywhere in the United States where a defendant can be found, lives, has an agent, or does business.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on costs, budgetary effects, or appropriations is included in the provided text.

Proponents' View#

The text of the Act explains its intent: to permit lawsuits to recover Nazi-looted art to be brought and decided on the merits despite the passage of time. It says some courts have dismissed such cases using time-based defenses or other discretionary doctrines and that those defenses should be precluded so claims can be resolved fairly. The Act also states it is meant to allow claims against covered governments or their agents regardless of victim nationality.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information on opposition views or arguments is included in the provided text.