AB 981 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Vehicles: active intelligent speed assist devices.

Summary

Existing law requires, until January 1, 2026, a person who has been convicted on or after January 1, 2019, of driving a motor vehicle under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, as specified, to install for a period of time, as ordered by the court, an ignition interlock device (IID) on the vehicle they operate. Installation of an IID is discretionary for a first offender, as specified. Existing law also requires persons convicted of driving under the influence of a drug to install an IID. Existing law specifies periods for which a person convicted of one or more prior driving-under-the-influence violations is required to install an IID, as specified. A violation of the Vehicle Code is a crime punishable as an infraction, unless otherwise specified. This bill would require the Department of Motor Vehicles to establish, until January 1, 2033, a pilot program in the Counties of Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, Sacramento, and Kern that would impose a similar requirement for persons convicted of specified driving offenses relating to excessive speed, reckless driving, and exhibitions of speed to install for a period of time, as ordered by the court, a certified active intelligent speed assist device (ISA) on any vehicle the person operates. The bill would similarly make the installation of an ISA discretionary for a first offender, as specified. The bill would establish periods for which a person convicted of one or more prior specified driving offenses is required to install an ISA, as specified. The bill would require the Department of Motor Vehicles to create a verification installation form to be submitted by persons subject to these provisions. The bill would impose a fee schedule to be adopted by certified ISA manufacturers and their agents for the ISA and other related costs. By creating new crimes related to the installation and maintenance of an ISA, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require, by July 1, 2030, the department to report data to the Transportation Agency regarding the implementation and efficacy of the pilot program, as specified, and require the Transportation Agency to report to the Legislature on the outcomes of the pilot program by July 1, 2031. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Counties of Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, Sacramento, and Kern. 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.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status failed 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 20, 2025 Last action Feb 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

02/20/25 - Introduced → 04/28/25 - Amended Assembly · 8 edits · Apr 28, 2025

MODERATE

AB 981 was significantly narrowed from a statewide mandate to a pilot program limited to five counties (Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, Sacramento, and Kern) with a sunset date of January 1, 2033. The amendment also added mandatory data reporting to the Transportation Agency by July 2030 and a legislative report by July 2031, revised the income-based fee schedule to lower cost shares for low-income offenders, and added new consumer protection provisions including the right to apply for reduced costs mid-program and expanded disclosure requirements for providers.

SCOPE

The bill was changed from a statewide requirement to a pilot program limited to the Counties of Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, Sacramento, and Kern. The DMV is now explicitly tasked with establishing the pilot program.

A new legislative findings section was added declaring that a special statute is necessary because of the high number of speed-related traffic violations in the five specified counties, justifying the county-specific approach under the California Constitution.

TIMELINE

A sunset provision (new Section 23702) was added requiring the entire division to be repealed on January 1, 2033, unless a later statute extends or deletes that date.

REQUIREMENT

New Section 23701 requires DMV to report data to the Transportation Agency by July 1, 2030 covering the period from January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2030. The Transportation Agency must then report to the Legislature by July 1, 2031 with an assessment and recommendations on further reducing speed-related violations.

FISCAL

Income-based fee schedule thresholds were raised (e.g., the lowest tier changed from 100% of federal poverty level to 125%) and cost shares were reduced for lower-income tiers (e.g., the lowest tier dropped from 10% to 5%, the next from 25% to 20%, the middle from 50% to 40%, and the highest income tier from 90% to 80%).

The fee schedule scope was expanded to explicitly cover not just the device cost but also program administration, installation, service, recalibration, monitoring, and any other associated costs.

ELIGIBILITY

New paragraph (3) allows individuals to apply for reduced costs at any point while a device is installed, receive credit for previously paid excess amounts, and reapply based on income changes.

ENFORCEMENT

New paragraph (4) requires ISA providers to post fee schedule information on their websites and contracts, give verbal notification before contract execution, have installation service providers post in their business, provide copies with court orders, and requires DMV to post the information on its website and include it in mailed suspension/revocation notices.

Floor votes

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No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Feb 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

lower

May 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.

lower

May 7, 2025

Committee

In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

lower

Apr 29, 2025

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

lower

Apr 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read second time and amended.

lower

Apr 24, 2025

Introduced

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 22).

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Committee

Referred to Com. on PUB. S.

lower

Feb 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors