The proposed bill, H.B. No. 2025-2026, seeks to amend the Ohio Self-Defense Act by redefining key terms such as "peace officer" and "reasonable force" to align with existing legal definitions. A significant change is the establishment that individuals not engaged in illegal activities have no duty to retreat from a lawful location before using or threatening to use reasonable force, including deadly force, in self-defense or defense of others. The bill also specifies that the affirmative defense of self-defense is unavailable in certain situations, such as when force is used during the commission of a felony or against an aggressor that the individual provoked.

Additionally, the bill introduces pretrial immunity hearings for those accused of using force in self-defense, shifting the burden of proof to the prosecution to show that the accused did not act in self-defense. It outlines specific conditions under which the presumption of self-defense applies, such as unlawful entry into a residence or vehicle. The legislation also provides immunity from arrest, criminal charges, or civil action for individuals who act in accordance with the new provisions, while mandating that courts award treble damages, including attorney's fees, to defendants found immune from prosecution. The act will repeal existing sections of the Revised Code that conflict with these new provisions.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 2307.601, 2901.05, 2901.09