Donate
Bills

AB 2584: Self-defense.

  • Session Year: 2025-2026
  • House: Assembly
  • Latest Version Date: 2026-03-26

Current Status:

In Progress

(2026-04-06: Re-referred to Com. on JUD.)

Introduced

In Committee

First Chamber

In Committee

Second Chamber

Enacted

Version:
Existing law authorizes a party about to be injured to lawfully resist the commission of a public offense and to use sufficient resistance to prevent the offense. Existing case law provides that, in order to justify an act of self-defense, an individual must have a reasonable belief that the threat is imminent, and limits the right of self-defense to the use of that force that is reasonable under the circumstances.This bill, the Preemptive Self Defense Act of 2026, would clarify that a party who reasonably perceives an imminent threat of bodily harm may make lawful resistance to the commission of a public offense and that the resistance authorized is required to be proportional to the reasonably perceived threat and to cease when the threat is no longer present. The bill would prohibit a partys background, training, and professional fighting skills from being taken into account when determining whether a party has taken reasonable defensive action.

Existing law authorizes necessary force to be used to protect from wrongful injury the person or property of oneself, or of a spouse, child, parent, or other relative, or member of ones family, or of a ward, servant, master, or guest.

This bill bill, the Preemptive Self Defense Act of 2026, would also specify that there shall not be any civil liability on the part of, and no cause of action shall accrue against, a person who lawfully resists a public offense, as described above. specified.

Discussed in Hearing

Assembly Standing Committee on Public Safety10MIN
Mar 24, 2026

Assembly Standing Committee on Public Safety

View Older Hearings

News Coverage:

AB 2584: Self-defense. | Digital Democracy