{
  "dateModified": "2026-08-25",
  "disclaimer": "General information only, not legal advice. Deadlines depend on the specific facts and claims.",
  "states": [
    {
      "name": "California",
      "code": "CA",
      "slug": "california",
      "agency": "CRD",
      "headline": "3 years",
      "image": "/at/state-ca.jpg",
      "verifiedDate": "2026-08-20",
      "rows": [
        {
          "label": "File with the state agency (CRD)",
          "value": "3 years from the unlawful practice (Gov. Code § 12960)",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "California Government Code § 12960",
              "url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV&sectionNum=12960"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Sexual harassment",
          "value": "Same, 3 years",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "California Government Code § 12960",
              "url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV&sectionNum=12960"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Federal EEOC",
          "value": "300 days",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "EEOC filing time limits",
              "url": "https://www.eeoc.gov/time-limits-filing-charge"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "File a lawsuit",
          "value": "1 year after the CRD right-to-sue notice",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "California Government Code § 12965",
              "url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV&sectionNum=12965"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Damages caps",
          "value": "State law does not impose Title VII's federal compensatory-and-punitive cap schedule; remedies depend on the claim and proof",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "California Government Code § 12965",
              "url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV&sectionNum=12965"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Retaliation, CRD charge",
          "value": "3 years",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "California Government Code § 12960",
              "url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV&sectionNum=12960"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Retaliation, federal EEOC",
          "value": "300 days",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "EEOC filing time limits",
              "url": "https://www.eeoc.gov/time-limits-filing-charge"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Retaliation, suit after CRD notice",
          "value": "1 year",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "California Government Code § 12965",
              "url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV&sectionNum=12965"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Public-policy wrongful termination",
          "value": "Court claim with a separate tort limitations analysis; do not assume the CRD charge deadline controls",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "California Supreme Court, public-policy discharge",
              "url": "https://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/S272113.PDF"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Equity / severance, written contract",
          "value": "4 years under Code Civ. Proc. § 337",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "California contract limitations statutes",
              "url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?article=&chapter=3.&division=&lawCode=CCP&part=2.&title=2."
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Equity / severance damages",
          "value": "Contract remedies are not governed by Title VII's damages-cap schedule",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "California contract limitations statutes",
              "url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?article=&chapter=3.&division=&lawCode=CCP&part=2.&title=2."
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Wage, common statutory period",
          "value": "3 years; older pay periods generally fall away first",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "California Code of Civil Procedure § 338",
              "url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP&sectionNum=338."
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Wage, restitution route",
          "value": "4 years for a qualifying unfair-business-practice restitution claim",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "California Business and Professions Code § 17208",
              "url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=BPC&sectionNum=17208."
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Wage, wage-statement penalty",
          "value": "1 year",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "California Code of Civil Procedure § 340",
              "url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP&sectionNum=340."
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Wage, federal FLSA",
          "value": "2 years generally; 3 years for a willful violation",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "U.S. Department of Labor, FLSA",
              "url": "https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/flsa"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Washington",
      "code": "WA",
      "slug": "washington",
      "agency": "WSHRC",
      "headline": "6 mo – 3 yrs",
      "image": "/at/state-wa.jpg",
      "verifiedDate": "2026-08-20",
      "rows": [
        {
          "label": "File with the state agency (WSHRC)",
          "value": "6 months (12 months pregnancy-related; 2 years whistleblower)",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "RCW 49.60.230",
              "url": "https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=49.60.230"
            },
            {
              "label": "RCW 49.44.211",
              "url": "https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=49.44.211"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Sexual harassment",
          "value": "Same, 6 months agency / 3 years direct suit",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "RCW 49.60.230",
              "url": "https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=49.60.230"
            },
            {
              "label": "RCW 4.16.080",
              "url": "https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=4.16.080"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Federal EEOC",
          "value": "300 days",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "EEOC filing time limits",
              "url": "https://www.eeoc.gov/time-limits-filing-charge"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "File a lawsuit",
          "value": "3 years, direct suit, no agency filing required",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "RCW 4.16.080",
              "url": "https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=4.16.080"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Seattle city option (SOCR)",
          "value": "18 months for work within Seattle, longer than the state's 6 months (Seattle Municipal Code 14.04)",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "Seattle Office for Civil Rights complaint filing",
              "url": "https://www.seattle.gov/civilrights/complaints/file-complaint"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Damages caps",
          "value": "State law does not impose a federal-style damages cap schedule; actual damages plus fees, depending on the claim and proof",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "RCW 49.60.030",
              "url": "https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=49.60.030"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Retaliation, WSHRC charge",
          "value": "6 months",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "RCW 49.60.230",
              "url": "https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=49.60.230"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Retaliation, federal EEOC",
          "value": "300 days",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "EEOC filing time limits",
              "url": "https://www.eeoc.gov/time-limits-filing-charge"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Retaliation / public-policy suit",
          "value": "3 years under the vetted matrix",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "RCW 4.16.080",
              "url": "https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=4.16.080"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Equity / severance, written contract",
          "value": "6 years under RCW 4.16.040",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "RCW 4.16.040",
              "url": "https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=4.16.040"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Equity / severance damages",
          "value": "Contract remedies are not governed by Title VII's damages-cap schedule",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "RCW 4.16.040",
              "url": "https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=4.16.040"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Wage, Washington claim",
          "value": "3 years, running from when the wages were owed",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "RCW 4.16.080",
              "url": "https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=4.16.080"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Wage, federal FLSA",
          "value": "2 years generally; 3 years for a willful violation",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "U.S. Department of Labor, FLSA",
              "url": "https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/flsa"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Texas",
      "code": "TX",
      "slug": "texas",
      "agency": "TWC CRD",
      "headline": "180 days",
      "image": "/at/state-tx.jpg",
      "verifiedDate": "2026-08-20",
      "rows": [
        {
          "label": "File with the state agency (TWC)",
          "value": "180 days, general claims (§ 21.202(a)); untimely complaints shall be dismissed",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "Texas Labor Code Chapter 21",
              "url": "https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/LA/htm/LA.21.htm"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Sexual harassment",
          "value": "300 days (§ 21.202(a-1))",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "Texas Labor Code Chapter 21",
              "url": "https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/LA/htm/LA.21.htm"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Federal EEOC",
          "value": "300 days",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "EEOC filing time limits",
              "url": "https://www.eeoc.gov/time-limits-filing-charge"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "File a lawsuit",
          "value": "60 days after the right-to-sue notice; never later than 2 years after the complaint",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "Texas Labor Code Chapter 21",
              "url": "https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/LA/htm/LA.21.htm"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Damages caps",
          "value": "$50K–$300K combined compensatory + punitive, by employer size",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "Texas Labor Code Chapter 21",
              "url": "https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/LA/htm/LA.21.htm"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Retaliation, TWC charge",
          "value": "180 days",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "Texas Labor Code Chapter 21",
              "url": "https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/LA/htm/LA.21.htm"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Retaliation, federal EEOC",
          "value": "300 days",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "EEOC filing time limits",
              "url": "https://www.eeoc.gov/time-limits-filing-charge"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Chapter 21 retaliation lawsuit",
          "value": "60 days after right-to-sue notice; never later than 2 years after the complaint",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "Texas Labor Code Chapter 21",
              "url": "https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/LA/htm/LA.21.htm"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Sabine Pilot wrongful discharge",
          "value": "Direct court claim with a separate limitations analysis",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "Fifth Circuit discussion of Sabine Pilot",
              "url": "https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/unpub/21/21-20311.0.pdf"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Equity / severance, contract claim",
          "value": "4 years generally under the residual limitations statute",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 16",
              "url": "https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/pdf/CP.16.pdf"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Equity / severance damages",
          "value": "Contract remedies are not governed by Chapter 21's damages-cap schedule",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 16",
              "url": "https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/pdf/CP.16.pdf"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Wage, Texas Payday Law claim",
          "value": "180 days after the wages became due",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "Texas Payday Law",
              "url": "https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/LA/htm/LA.61.htm"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Wage, federal FLSA",
          "value": "2 years generally; 3 years for a willful violation",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "U.S. Department of Labor, FLSA",
              "url": "https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/flsa"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Nevada",
      "code": "NV",
      "slug": "nevada",
      "agency": "NERC",
      "headline": "300 days",
      "image": "/at/state-nv.jpg",
      "verifiedDate": "2026-08-20",
      "rows": [
        {
          "label": "File with the state agency (NERC)",
          "value": "300 days (NRS 233.160(1)(b)), online filing only",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 233",
              "url": "https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-233.html"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Sexual harassment",
          "value": "Same, 300 days",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 233",
              "url": "https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-233.html"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Federal EEOC",
          "value": "300 days",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "EEOC filing time limits",
              "url": "https://www.eeoc.gov/time-limits-filing-charge"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "File a lawsuit",
          "value": "180 days from the act, or 90 days after the NERC/EEOC right-to-sue notice, whichever is later. The limit is tolled while a NERC or EEOC complaint is pending (NRS 613.430)",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 613",
              "url": "https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-613.html"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Damages caps",
          "value": "Federal Title VII caps apply ($50K–$300K by size)",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "EEOC remedies",
              "url": "https://www.eeoc.gov/remedies-employment-discrimination"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Retaliation, NERC or EEOC charge",
          "value": "300 days",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 233",
              "url": "https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-233.html"
            },
            {
              "label": "EEOC filing time limits",
              "url": "https://www.eeoc.gov/time-limits-filing-charge"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Common-law wrongful termination",
          "value": "2 years from termination; tolled during a related administrative complaint and until 93 days after it concludes",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 11",
              "url": "https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-011.html"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Equity / severance, written contract",
          "value": "6 years",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 11",
              "url": "https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-011.html"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Equity / severance, non-written contract",
          "value": "4 years",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 11",
              "url": "https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-011.html"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Equity / severance damages",
          "value": "Contract remedies are not governed by Title VII's damages-cap schedule",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 11",
              "url": "https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-011.html"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Wage, common private action",
          "value": "2 years; the Labor Commissioner has a separate claim-specific intake window",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 608",
              "url": "https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-608.html"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Wage, federal FLSA",
          "value": "2 years generally; 3 years for a willful violation",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "U.S. Department of Labor, FLSA",
              "url": "https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/flsa"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Colorado",
      "code": "CO",
      "slug": "colorado",
      "agency": "CCRD",
      "headline": "300 days",
      "image": "/at/state-co.jpg",
      "verifiedDate": "2026-08-25",
      "rows": [
        {
          "label": "File with the state agency (CCRD)",
          "value": "300 days from the unlawful practice, extended from six months by HB22-1367; older six-month guidance is out of date",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "Colorado HB22-1367",
              "url": "https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb22-1367"
            },
            {
              "label": "Colorado Civil Rights Division",
              "url": "https://ccrd.colorado.gov/"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Sexual harassment",
          "value": "Same, 300 days; the 2023 POWR Act changed the harassment standard itself",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "Colorado SB23-172 (POWR Act)",
              "url": "https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb23-172"
            },
            {
              "label": "Colorado Civil Rights Division",
              "url": "https://ccrd.colorado.gov/"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Federal EEOC",
          "value": "300 days; employer-size coverage differs (Title VII 15+, CADA all sizes)",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "EEOC filing time limits",
              "url": "https://www.eeoc.gov/time-limits-filing-charge"
            },
            {
              "label": "EEOC Denver timeliness",
              "url": "https://www.eeoc.gov/field-office/denver/timeliness"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "File a lawsuit",
          "value": "CADA generally requires exhausting the CCRD process; 90 days after a right-to-sue notice",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "Colorado Civil Rights Division complaint process",
              "url": "https://ccrd.colorado.gov/complaint-process"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Damages caps",
          "value": "Compensatory and punitive damages follow employer-size caps mirroring the federal schedule, with reduced caps under 15 employees",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "Colorado Revised Statutes",
              "url": "https://leg.colorado.gov/colorado-revised-statutes"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Retaliation, CCRD charge",
          "value": "300 days",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "Colorado HB22-1367",
              "url": "https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb22-1367"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Retaliation, federal EEOC",
          "value": "300 days",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "EEOC filing time limits",
              "url": "https://www.eeoc.gov/time-limits-filing-charge"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Public-policy wrongful termination",
          "value": "Tort claim generally subject to Colorado's 2-year period; which period applies depends on the underlying theory",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "Colorado Revised Statutes",
              "url": "https://leg.colorado.gov/colorado-revised-statutes"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Equity / severance, contract claim",
          "value": "3 years generally; some liquidated-amount claims carry 6 years. A severance response date is usually far shorter",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "Colorado Revised Statutes",
              "url": "https://leg.colorado.gov/colorado-revised-statutes"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Noncompete / restrictive covenant",
          "value": "Enforceability is governed by C.R.S. § 8-2-113 as amended (2022, 2025); the agreement date controls which version applies",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "Colorado SB25-083",
              "url": "https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB25-083"
            },
            {
              "label": "Colorado HB22-1317",
              "url": "https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb22-1317"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Wage, Colorado claim",
          "value": "2 years generally; 3 years for willful violations",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "CDLE wage and hour laws",
              "url": "https://cdle.colorado.gov/dlss/labor-laws-by-topic/wage-and-hour-laws-including-paid-sick-leave"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "Wage, federal FLSA",
          "value": "2 years generally; 3 years for a willful violation",
          "sources": [
            {
              "label": "U.S. Department of Labor, FLSA",
              "url": "https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/flsa"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}