Assemblymember Heath Flora’s effort to clarify California’s self-defense laws passed out of the public safety committee with bipartisan support.

As originally introduced, Assembly Bill 2584 sought to modernize longstanding provisions in California law by clarifying when an individual may lawfully act in self-defense in the face of an imminent threat.

The bill was designed to address real-world situations where a person must make split-second decisions to protect themselves before an attack is fully carried out

Following discussion in committee, amendments were adopted that narrow the bill’s scope to focus on civil law — specifically, when individuals may be held liable for actions taken in self-defense.

The bill continues to advance important protections by ensuring that individuals who act reasonably to defend themselves are not unfairly exposed to civil lawsuits.

“AB 2584 is about clarity and fairness,” said Assemblymember Flora, who represents Manteca and Ripon. “No one should be put in the position of facing legal consequences for taking reasonable action to lawfully protect themselves from harm.”

“While the bill has been narrowed, it still represents a meaningful step toward aligning our laws with real-world self-defense situations.”

The committee hearing featured testimony from subject matter experts, including well-known former police officer and mixed martial arts referee, Mike Beltran.

Beltran provided insight into how quickly physical confrontations can escalate and the importance of recognizing imminent threats before injury occurs. Other witnesses included martial arts teachers and active practitioners.

Supporters of the bill emphasized that current law relies on outdated statutory language that does not always reflect the realities individuals face in rapidly evolving confrontations. AB 2584 aims to provide clearer guidance while maintaining the longstanding legal standard of reasonableness.

The bill will now move to the Assembly Judiciary Committee for further consideration.