AB-1874 • 2026

Vehicles: driver’s license suspension and revocation.

Crime

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Wilson (A) , Ellis
Last action: 2026-04-14
Official status: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 13). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about other types of crimes beyond manslaughter and does not clarify how it will affect existing cases.

Driver's License Suspension and Revocation Rules

This law changes the timing for reinstating driver’s licenses after certain manslaughter convictions and specifies when license suspensions begin.

What This Bill Does

Requires people convicted of specified types of manslaughter to wait three years from their release date before getting their driving privileges back.
Specifies that court-ordered periods of license suspension or revocation start on the day a person is released from custody.

Who It Names or Affects

People convicted of certain types of manslaughter and other serious traffic offenses.
The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Terms To Know

Manslaughter: A crime where someone dies because another person was careless or reckless, but not with the intent to kill.
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV): The government agency that issues driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations.

Limits and Unknowns

Doesn't specify how long someone must wait before getting their license back for other types of crimes.
It's not clear if this law will affect cases already in progress when it becomes a rule.

Bill History

2026-04-14 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 13). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-14 California Legislative Information
Coauthors revised.
2026-04-06 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.
2026-03-26 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2026-03-25 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (March 24).
2026-03-17 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
2026-03-02 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on PUB. S. and TRANS.
2026-02-13 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 15.
2026-02-12 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1874, as amended, Wilson.
Vehicles: driver’s license suspension and revocation.
Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to immediately revoke the driving privilege of a person upon receipt of a duly certified abstract of the record of a court showing that the person has been convicted of, among other things, certain types of manslaughter. Existing law prohibits the department from reinstating that driving privilege until 3 years after the date of revocation.
This bill would additionally prohibit the department from reinstating the driving privilege of a person convicted of those specified crimes and sentenced to incarceration in the state prison or county jail until 3 years after the date of release.
Existing law authorizes or requires the court to suspend or revoke the driving privileges, or to order the Department of Motor Vehicles to suspend or revoke the driving privileges, of a person who is convicted of certain offenses, including, among others, driving under the influence or reckless driving.
This bill would specify that the court-ordered period of license suspension or revocation would commence when a person is released from custody, as specified.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF