Sunita Somvanshi
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed four DUI-related bills on September 25, 2026, tightening penalties for repeat offenders and making changes to ignition interlock requirements, license revocation periods, and DMV point rules. The package is widely referred to as “Braun’s Law,” but that name applies to only one of the four bills — and what each bill actually does differs significantly.
The four bills and what each one changes
The legislation consists of SB 907, AB 1546, AB 1685, and AB 1687.
SB 907 is the bill formally called Braun’s Law, named in honor of Braun Levi — an 18-year-old Pacific Palisades tennis player who was struck and killed by a suspected repeat drunk driver while walking in Manhattan Beach in May 2025. SB 907 requires that when a DUI charge is reduced to a lesser offense through a plea deal, the defendant must receive a formal Watson advisement — a legal warning that driving under the influence is dangerous to human life and that a future DUI causing a death can support a murder charge. It closes a loophole that previously allowed some defendants to complete plea deals without receiving this warning.
AB 1546 strengthens penalties for repeat DUI offenders. AB 1685 changes how DMV points are assessed for DUI-related violations. AB 1687, known as Irene’s Law, adds a 72-month license suspension rule beginning January 1, 2031, for a driver convicted of an injury-causing DUI who also has four or more prior qualifying DUI-related convictions within 10 years.
At the time Newsom signed the package, the California Highway Patrol had recorded more than 50,900 DUI arrests in 2026.
What the new law does — and what it doesn’t
The most important distinction to understand about Braun’s Law specifically is what it does not automatically do: SB 907 does not turn every repeat DUI into a murder charge. What it does is ensure that drivers whose charges are pled down receive the Watson advisement — which means that if they drive drunk again and someone dies, prosecutors have a stronger basis to pursue a murder charge. The law changes the warning and plea framework; it does not automatically impose murder liability on any specific offense.
Under AB 1687, the key new rule is narrower than some summaries suggest: the 72-month suspension applies from January 1, 2031, when the current DUI caused bodily injury and the driver has four or more prior qualifying DUI-related convictions within 10 years. The bill also ties restricted-license eligibility to DUI-program participation, proof of financial responsibility, and a functioning ignition interlock device.
The ignition interlock requirements — devices that prevent a vehicle from starting if the driver has alcohol in their system — are also strengthened under the package, with tighter requirements for repeat offenders. Karmactive has also reported on California road-safety cases, including the Temecula Cybertruck driveway death investigation and a California freeway wrongful-death arbitration involving Uber.
What this means for California drivers
For California drivers with prior DUI convictions, the practical effect depends on which bill applies to their situation. A driver whose DUI charge is being negotiated to a lesser offense will receive the formal Watson advisement, establishing awareness of future criminal exposure. For AB 1687, the most severe license rule is aimed at injury-causing DUI cases involving four or more prior qualifying convictions within 10 years, with implementation set for January 1, 2031.
FAQ
What is Braun’s Law in California?
Braun’s Law is SB 907, signed September 25, 2026. Named for 18-year-old Braun Levi who was killed by a suspected repeat drunk driver in Manhattan Beach in May 2025, the law requires that when a DUI charge is pled down to a lesser offense, the defendant must receive a formal Watson advisement — a warning that a future DUI causing death can result in a murder charge.
What are California’s new DUI laws in 2026?
The four bills are SB 907 (Braun’s Law — Watson advisement for plea-downs), AB 1546 (stronger repeat-offender penalties), AB 1685 (DMV point changes), and AB 1687 (Irene’s Law — 72-month suspension rule for injury-causing DUI cases involving four or more prior qualifying convictions within 10 years, operative January 1, 2031).
What license rule does AB 1687 add?
AB 1687 adds a 72-month suspension rule, operative January 1, 2031, for a driver convicted of an injury-causing DUI who has four or more prior qualifying DUI-related convictions within 10 years. It is not a blanket rule for every third DUI case.
Implementation guidance from the California DMV and Superior Courts is expected in the coming months. This article will be updated as specific effective dates and court guidance are published.
