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AB-1333 • 2026

Crimes: homicide.

Crimes: homicide.

Crime Education
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Zbur
Last action
2026-02-02
Official status
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details about how much force is too much in self-defense situations.

Changes to Homicide Laws

AB-1333 changes California's laws about when killing someone is legal or not, removing certain justifiable homicide defenses and clarifying others.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes the right to use deadly force to protect property or a home from an intruder.
  • Makes it illegal to kill someone if you used more force than necessary to defend yourself.
  • Stops allowing killing during riot control as legal defense.
  • Clarifies that if you start a fight, you can't claim self-defense unless you tried to stop the fighting and showed your opponent you wanted to end it.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who might need to defend themselves or others in dangerous situations.
  • Law enforcement officers dealing with riots or violent confrontations.
  • Courts and legal professionals handling homicide cases.

Terms To Know

Homicide
The unlawful killing of a person, including under certain circumstances involving a fetus.
Justifiable Homicide
A situation where the law allows someone to kill another person without facing criminal charges.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much force is too much in self-defense situations.
  • It's unclear how this will affect current cases or laws outside of California.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-02 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  2. 2026-01-31 California Legislative Information

    Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.

  3. 2025-03-17 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  4. 2025-03-13 California Legislative Information

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. Read second time and amended.

  5. 2025-03-13 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  6. 2025-02-24 California Legislative Information

    Read first time.

  7. 2025-02-22 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 24.

  8. 2025-02-21 California Legislative Information

    Introduced. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1333, as amended, Zbur.
Crimes: homicide.
Existing law defines homicide as the unlawful killing of a human being, or a fetus, with or without malice aforethought, as specified. Existing law establishes certain circumstances in which homicide is justifiable, as specified.
This bill would eliminate certain circumstances under which homicide is justifiable, including, among others, in defense of a habitation or property. The bill would additionally clarify circumstances in which homicide is not justifiable, including, among others, when a person uses more force than necessary to defend against a danger.
Existing law makes homicide justifiable
when attempting to lawfully suppress a riot or to keep the peace, as specified.
This bill would eliminate that provision. The bill would also specify certain circumstances in which homicide is not justifiable, including when a person was outside their habitation or property and did not retreat when they could have safely done so, when a person used more force than a reasonable person would to defend against a danger, and when the person was the initial aggressor. However, the bill would specify that homicide is justifiable if the initial aggressor actually and in good faith tried to stop fighting and indicated they wanted to and tried to stop fighting, as specified, or, in cases of mutual combat, the initial aggressor gave the opponent an opportunity to stop fighting.
By expanding the scope of
the crime of homicide, this bill would create a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF