The bill proposes a revision to the laws regarding self-defense, specifically focusing on the affirmative defense of justifiable use of force. It stipulates that if a defendant successfully argues this defense in a case involving a forcible felony and is not convicted, they are entitled to reimbursement for out-of-pocket costs, attorney fees, and other related expenses. This reimbursement is to be sourced from the budget allocated to the prosecutor or their employer for the trial that did not result in a conviction. However, if the defendant is convicted of other charges where the justifiable use of force defense was not raised or was unsuccessful, they will be responsible for their own legal costs in those cases.

Additionally, the bill includes a codification instruction indicating that the new provisions will be integrated into Title 45, chapter 3, part 1 of the Montana legal code. This ensures that the new section regarding reimbursement for defendants who successfully argue justifiable use of force is formally recognized within the existing legal framework.