AB-1087 • 2026

Crimes: vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

Crime Education

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Patterson
Last action: 2025-10-01
Official status: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 180, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on when the bill becomes effective or what happens in cases where prison sentences are given instead of probation.

Crimes: Vehicular Manslaughter While Intoxicated

AB-1087 increases the probation period for people convicted of vehicular manslaughter while driving under the influence from one to two years to three to five years.

What This Bill Does

Increases the minimum probation period for someone convicted of vehicular manslaughter without malice while driving under the influence from one year (for misdemeanors) or two years (for felonies) to a range of three to five years.

Who It Names or Affects

People convicted of vehicular manslaughter while driving under the influence who are given probation instead of jail time.

Terms To Know

Vehicular Manslaughter: Killing someone by accident while driving, without intending to harm anyone.
Probation: A punishment where a person is allowed to stay out of jail but must follow certain rules set by the court.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if someone is sentenced to prison instead of probation.
It only applies to cases that are currently or will be under review after the effective date, which has not been specified yet.

Bill History

2025-10-01 California Legislative Information
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 180, Statutes of 2025.
2025-10-01 California Legislative Information
Approved by the Governor.
2025-09-11 California Legislative Information
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
2025-09-04 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.
2025-09-04 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 2523.).
2025-09-02 California Legislative Information
Ordered to special consent calendar.
2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 29).
2025-08-18 California Legislative Information
In committee: Referred to suspense file.
2025-07-08 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (July 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-06-18 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2025-06-09 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2025-06-05 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 2110.)
2025-05-27 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 23).
2025-05-07 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2025-04-29 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-28 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2025-04-24 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 22).
2025-03-10 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2025-02-21 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
2025-02-20 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1087, Patterson.
Crimes: vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
Existing law prohibits operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, as specified. Under existing law, if a person is convicted of driving under the influence and is granted probation, the period of probation shall be for not less than 3 years and not more than 5 years, unless the maximum prison sentence for the offense is greater than 5 years, in which case the period of probation may be longer.
Existing law prohibits the unlawful killing of a human being, without malice aforethought, while driving under the influence. A violation of this prohibition is punishable either as a misdemeanor or as a felony. Under existing law, if a person is convicted of the unlawful killing of a human being, without malice aforethought, while driving under the influence, and is granted probation, the period of probation shall be not more
than one year if the person is convicted of a misdemeanor and 2 years if the person in convicted of a felony.
This bill would increase the period of probation for a person who is convicted of the unlawful killing of a human being, without malice aforethought, while driving under the influence to be not less than 3 years and not more than 5 years.
By increasing the period of probation, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
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.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF