Self-defense., the official text

An act to amend Section 50 of the Civil Code, relating to self-defense.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

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, 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 specified.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.
This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the Preemptive Self Defense Act of 2026.

SEC. 2.
Section 50 of the Civil Code is amended to read:
50.
(a) Any necessary force may 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.
(b) (1) 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 in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 692) of Title 1 of Part 2 of the Penal Code.
(2) This subdivision does not apply to a person who was the primary aggressor and subsequently suffers injury or to a person who used force that was not proportional to the reasonably perceived threat.