California AB1546: Vehicles: driving under the influence.

What the bill says

An act to amend Section 1861.025 of the Insurance Code, and to amend Sections 14601.2, 14601.3, 23546, 23550, 23550.5, and 23572 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles. vehicles Vehicles: driving under the influence…

From the chaptered text, September 25, 2026:

An act to amend Section 1861.025 of the Insurance Code, and to amend Sections 14601.2, 14601.3, 23546, 23550, 23550.5, and 23572 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles. vehicles Vehicles: driving under the influence. Under existing law, if a person is convicted of either driving under the influence (DUI) of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug or driving while having 0.08% or more, by weight, of alcohol in the person’s blood within 10 years of 2 separate violations of specified DUI offenses, or any combination thereof, that resulted in convictions, that person has committed an offense punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not less than 120 days nor more than one year and by a fine, as specified. This bill would, instead, make the above DUI conviction punishable as a wobbler by imprisonment in the county jail for not less than 120 days nor more than one year and by a fine, as specified, or by imprisonment in the county jail for 16 months or 2 or 3 years and a fine, as specified. By increasing the punishment of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Under existing law, if a person is convicted of DUI and the offense occurred within 10 years of 3 …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Nick Schultz (D, AD44) · primary sponsor
• Mark González (D, AD54)
• Lori Wilson (D, AD11)
• Juan Alanis (R, AD22)
• Cottie Petrie-Norris (D, AD73)

Latest actions

1. September 25, 2026: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 444, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 25, 2026: Approved by the Governor.
3. September 14, 2026: Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 1:30 p.m.
4. August 31, 2026: Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 7053.).
5. August 31, 2026: Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Page 7053.)
6. August 31, 2026: Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 0.).
7. August 31, 2026: Assembly Rule 63 suspended.
8. August 31, 2026: In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
9. August 31, 2026: Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.).
10. August 30, 2026: Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

Votes

• Assembly 3rd Reading AB1546 Schultz et al. By Menjivar (August 31, 2026): 40 yea, 0 nay, passed
• AB 1546 SCHULTZ Concurrence in Senate Amendments (August 31, 2026): 79 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Do pass (August 13, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Placed on suspense file (August 3, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] (June 23, 2026): 6 yea, 0 nay, passed
• AB 1546 Schultz Assembly Third Reading (May 21, 2026): 72 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is AB1546?

AB1546 is a bill in the California Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): Vehicles: driving under the influence.

What does AB1546 do?

In its own words: An act to amend Section 1861.025 of the Insurance Code, and to amend Sections 14601.2, 14601.3, 23546, 23550, 23550.5, and 23572 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles. vehicles Vehicles: driving under the influence…

What is the status of AB1546?

Chaptered as of September 25, 2026. Latest action: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 444, Statutes of 2026. (September 25, 2026).

Who sponsored AB1546?

Nick Schultz (D, AD44), with 4 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for AB1546?

On the California Legislature website: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1546