AB 1546 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Vehicles: driving under the influence.

Summary
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 or more separate violations for driving under the influence that resulted in specified convictions, that person has committed an offense punishable as either a misdemeanor or a felony. This bill would, instead, make the above DUI conviction punishable as a wobbler if the offense occurred within 10 years of 3 separate violations for driving under the influence that resulted in specified convictions, and punishable as a felony by imprisonment in the county jail for 16 months or 2 or 3 years and a fine, as specified, if the offense occurred within 10 years of 4 or more separate violations for driving under the influence that resulted in specified convictions. By increasing the punishment of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would make conforming changes. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Sections 23546, 23550, and 23550.5 of the Vehicle Code proposed by AB 1830 to be operative only if this bill and AB 1830 are enacted and this bill is enacted last. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Aug 2026
Assembly Passage
May 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 5, 2026 Last action Aug 30, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

08/28/26 - Amended Senate AB1546 · 5 edits
MODERATE
AB 1546 establishes a tiered penalty system for repeat DUI offenders in California, escalating punishments based on the number of prior convictions within a 10-year window. The bill creates three tiers: two priors results in a wobbler offense, three priors remains a wobbler with a 36-month ignition interlock requirement, and four or more priors becomes a mandatory felony with a 48-month interlock requirement and 5-year license revocation. The diff shows the full text of the prior version being removed, indicating a complete reformatting or restructuring for the final enrolled version.
Scope change
The bill narrows and refines its scope by replacing a single threshold (3+ prior DUIs) with a graduated three-tier system (2, 3, and 4+ priors), effectively expanding enhanced penalties to offenders with as few as 2 prior convictions while reserving the harshest mandatory felony treatment for those with 4 or more.
REQUIREMENT

Creates a new tier for DUI offenders with 4 or more prior convictions within 10 years: mandatory felony punishable by 16 months or 2 or 3 years in county jail, with 5-year license revocation and 48-month ignition interlock device requirement.

Changes the penalty for DUI with 2 prior convictions within 10 years from a fixed misdemeanor (120 days to 1 year) to a wobbler that can be punished as either a misdemeanor or a felony (16 months or 2 or 3 years).

Splits the existing rule for 3+ prior DUIs into two separate tiers: 3 priors remains a wobbler with 4-year revocation and 36-month interlock, while 4+ priors becomes a mandatory felony with 5-year revocation and 48-month interlock.

DEFINITION

Adds new Vehicle Code sections 23550.1 and 23552.1 to create the statutory basis for the new penalty tiers, and incorporates conforming changes from AB 1830 to Sections 23546, 23550, and 23550.5.

SCOPE

Extends the ignition interlock device mandatory term from a flat 36 months for all repeat offenders to a tiered system: 36 months for 3 priors and 48 months for 4 or more priors within 10 years.

Floor votes · Assembly May 21, 2026

How they voted

710
Passed · 8 other
Total votes 79
May 21, 2026
D Democratic59
53 Yea 6
89% Yea
R Republican20
18 Yea 2
90% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
17
Key actions
7
Committee
9
Amendments
1
Aug 28, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
upper
Aug 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).
upper
Aug 3, 2026
Committee
In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
upper
Jun 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
upper
Jun 3, 2026
Committee
Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
upper
May 21, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 72. Noes 0. Page 5185.)
lower
May 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).
lower
May 6, 2026
Committee
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (March 3). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
lower
Feb 9, 2026
Committee
Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
lower
Jan 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
From printer. May be heard in committee February 5.
lower
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors

Sponsors