AN ACT CONCERNING THE DUTY TO RETREAT IN A HOUSE OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP.

HB 7070 removes the legal requirement for individuals to retreat before using deadly force in a house of religious worship for self-defense or protecting others. It amends Connecticut's self-defense statute (section 53a-19) to explicitly state that people inside religious buildings - owned by or held in trust for religious organizations - do not need to retreat to avoid using deadly force. This change applies specifically to religious worship spaces, not other locations like homes or workplaces. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, and directly affects anyone defending themselves within a religious organization's building.