Self-defense.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's full text is not provided here, so some details are unclear.

Preemptive Self-Defense Act

The Preemptive Self-Defense Act clarifies when and how people can use self-defense against an imminent threat, ensuring the force used is proportional to the perceived danger.

What This Bill Does

• Clarifies that a person who reasonably believes they are about to be harmed may defend themselves before the actual harm occurs.
• Requires any defensive action taken must match the level of threat and stop when the threat ends.
• Stops courts from considering someone's background or fighting skills when deciding if their self-defense was reasonable.
• Protects people who use lawful self-defense from being sued for damages.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who might need to defend themselves against an imminent threat of harm.
• Courts that decide if someone's defensive actions were reasonable.
• Anyone involved in a lawsuit related to self-defense.

Terms To Know

Imminent Threat

A danger that is about to happen and cannot be avoided without taking action right away.

Proportional Force

The amount of defensive force used must match the level of threat faced, not more or less.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify how courts will decide if a perceived threat was reasonable.
• Does not change existing laws about what counts as a crime or offense.

Official Summary Text

AB 1488, as amended, Flora.
Criminal law.
Self-defense.
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 2025, 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 party’s 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 one’s family, or of a ward, servant, master, or guest.
This bill 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.
Existing law specifies that crimes and public offenses include felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions.
This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to that provision.

Current Bill Text

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