In a huge victory for sexual-abuse survivors — and all of us who care about those women and men — a Senate committee on Thursday unanimously approved the original version of smart and righteous legislation from state Rep. Craig Goldman, R-Fort Worth, that expands the time frame for civil action against perpetrators.

Becky Leach, the wife of state Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, has driven momentum on HB 3809. In testimony before the state House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee in support of the bill, Becky Leach disclosed publicly for the first time that she was sexually abused as a child.

But in the days after her testimony, HB 3809, which would lengthen the period for civil action from 15 to 30 years after a victim's 18th birthday, was quietly and significantly changed.

The revised language created a loophole for enabling institutions such as sports groups, youth organizations and churches. Some advocates told me they thought the carve-out made the bill worse than existing law.

But the Senate State Affairs Committee, in a 7-0 vote, saved the day, approving Goldman's original legislation without the loophole.

Becky Leach told me that the first thing she did when she heard the good news Thursday was to text Goldman with thanks for his advocacy on behalf of survivors. "He has been brave, patient and so willing to work with us, and for that I am overwhelmingly grateful," she said.

In the days since her testimony — and even when the bill hit speed bumps — she said she's been most thankful for the conversation this legislation started.

"Since testifying, my inbox has been filled with heart-breaking stories of abuse and survival, of women and men still unable to come forward," Leach said.

During her testimony, Leach also spoke to the reasons why many other victims of sexual abuse "hold it in for so long." Among the words she read from the Twitter hashtag #whyididntreport: "Because I was 10." "Because my mom was in love with him." "Because I was a boy." "Because I didn't want to upset my grandparents."

Chris Kaiser, the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault director of public policy, lauded Thursday's action as returning the legislation to its original intent. "By filing HB 3809, Rep. Goldman set out to empower child sex-abuse survivors to hold their abusers accountable and stop them from harming others," Kaiser said.

State Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, and his wife, Becky, at their North Texas home. (Jason Janik / Special Contributor)

He called the legislation "one of the most powerful pieces of sexual assault legislation this session."

Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, who carried the bill for Goldman in the Senate, told me Thursday, "From the beginning I've said that we have to do right by the survivors of child sex abuse for whom HB 3809 was filed."

Watson said he's now focused on working with Senate colleagues and Goldman to get a final bill passed.

The next step is a full Senate vote, which is likely to come as early as next week. The House will then need to concur with the Senate amendment to restore HB 3809 to its original language.

As the legislative session winds down, it's critical that lawmakers keep their foot on the gas pedal to move this all the way to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk.

While HB 3809 has not been without controversy, we ought not lose sight of the two people most responsible for providing this chance to sex-abuse survivors.

Had Goldman not brought this legislation forward in the beginning, Becky Leach would have had no reason to tell her story in Austin. The Fort Worth Republican did yeoman's work before the bill ever caught the public's attention.

Thursday's developments provide hope that Goldman's work and Leach's courageous testimony — sitting before the world and talking about what must be the worst moments of her life — will end up helping thousands of other survivors in Texas who have not yet been able to find their own voices.

Now we are closer to giving those victims the time that research shows many need before they are ready to come forward.

"I am extremely hopeful that now they will have more time to seek the justice they so deserve," Becky Leach said.