Bill > AB1488

This bill, known as the Preemptive Self Defense Act of 2025, clarifies and expands the legal framework for self-defense in California. The bill modifies existing laws to explicitly allow individuals to use reasonable force when they perceive an imminent threat of bodily harm, even before a physical attack has begun. It defines an "imminent threat" as actions that reasonably indicate an impending physical attack, such as deliberate feints or aggressive movements. The legislation protects individuals who use proportional defensive force by stipulating that they shall not face civil liability when lawfully resisting a public offense. Importantly, the bill prohibits considering a person's background, training, or professional fighting skills when evaluating the reasonableness of their defensive actions, which aims to create a more objective standard for self-defense claims. The bill also specifies that defensive resistance must be proportional to the perceived threat and must cease when the threat is no longer present, with an exception for those who were the primary aggressor in a confrontation. These changes are intended to provide clearer guidelines for self-defense situations while protecting individuals who act reasonably to prevent potential harm.

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https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1488