HB 331 Summary: Self-Defense

• Authorizes use of non-deadly force to defend property and deadly force to prevent imminent commission of a forcible felony, with no duty to retreat if in a lawful place.

• Changes law enforcement investigation requirements from discretionary to mandatory when justifiable force is claimed, and removes prohibition on arrest by making arrest decision dependent on probable cause determination.

• Changes court awards of attorney fees and costs from mandatory to discretionary in civil actions when defendant is found immune from prosecution under self-defense statutes.

• Removes justifiable force availability for initial aggressors and adds new circumstances where force justification is unavailable, including leaving a place of safety to provoke confrontation or pursuing an assailant after withdrawal.

• Establishes statewide database requiring Department of Law Enforcement to collect and maintain data on all justifiable use of force claims, with law enforcement agencies required to submit monthly reports to the department.