What AB 1605 does
An act to amend, repeal, and add Section 25659 of, and to add Sections 25655 and 25657.5 to, the Business and Professions Code, and to add Sections 13353.9 and 23600.5 to the Vehicle Code, relating to crimes.
Existing law, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, provides for the issuance, suspension, revocation, and conditions upon licensure for the manufacture, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages. Existing law makes every person who sells, furnishes, gives, or causes to be sold, furnished or given away any alcoholic beverage to any person under 21 years of age guilty of a misdemeanor.
Existing law also makes it unlawful for a person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or the combined influence of both, to drive a vehicle and requires a court, when granting probation following conviction of a driving under the influence offense, to impose certain terms and conditions, including that the individual not drive a vehicle with any measurable amount of alcohol in their blood, among others.
This bill would require everyone who sells or furnishes alcoholic beverages to first review bona fide evidence of majority and identity, as described. The bill would authorize a court when granting probation for certain driving under the influence offenses to prohibit the person from purchasing alcohol and would require the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue an identification card or driver’s license with an appropriate designation on the face upon the receipt of an abstract of the record of a court. The bill would authorize the court to prohibit the purchase of alcohol when the offense occurred within 10 years of 2 or more driving under the influence offenses that resulted in conviction or certain other prior convictions, or if the conviction was for vehicular manslaughter, as specified. The bill would require a seller of alcoholic beverages to refuse to sell or serve someone subject to such an order.
To the extent this bill would require a higher level of service from court staff who are county employees, the 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Summary from the Legislative Counsel's Digest of the amended assembly text, April 28, 2026. Read the full text on leginfo.
How it got here
Assemblymember Ransom introduced AB 1605 on January 20, 2026, with coauthors Assembly Members Alanis, Ávila Farías, Bennett, Ellis, Jackson, Petrie-Norris, Michelle Rodriguez, and Stefani and Senators McNerney and Rubio. The text was amended 4 times, and heard in 4 committee hearings before its final floor votes.
Committee votes along the way:
- Assembly Public Safety, March 24, 2026: Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Governmental Organization], 8-0.
- Assembly Governmental Organization, April 22, 2026: Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations], 19-0.
Who supports and opposes AB 1605
The Assembly Governmental Organization analysis dated April 21, 2026 lists 29 organizations in support and 12 in opposition. When Assembly Public Safety first listed positions on March 23, 2026, the count was 24 in support and 13 opposed. By the Assembly Governmental Organization analysis of April 21, 2026 it was 29 to 12.
In support: Alcohol Justice; American Medical Response West; Arcadia Police Officers' Association; Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs (ALADS); Brea Police Association; Burbank Police Officers' Association; California Association of Highway Patrolmen; California Association of School Police Chiefs; and 21 more.
Opposed: ACLU California Action; All of US or None (HQ); Debt Free Justice California; Initiate Justice; Justice2jobs Coalition; LA Defensa; Legal Services for Prisoners With Children; Local 148 Los Angeles County Public Defender's Union; and 4 more.
Read the Assembly Governmental Organization analysis.
What happens next
It is in Assembly Appropriations. The last recorded action was on May 14, 2026.
The Governor can sign the bill, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Until the decision, sign and veto request letters are the remaining channel, and the Department of Finance's enrolled bill report carries weight on anything with a fiscal effect. If signed, most provisions take effect January 1, and implementation moves to the agencies named in the bill.
What it means for small business organizations
This is the stage where language still changes. Amendments taken in committee are the ones that reach the Governor, so an organization with a stake in the drafting has a reason to be in that conversation now rather than after the vote.
The small business group at Capitol Axis handles that for small business clients.
Questions about AB 1605
What does AB 1605 do?
This bill would require everyone who sells or furnishes alcoholic beverages to first review bona fide evidence of majority and identity, as described. The bill would authorize a court when granting probation for certain driving under the influence offenses to prohibit the person from purchasing alcohol and would require the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue an identification card or driver’s license with an appropriate designation on the face upon the receipt of an abstract of the record of a court. The bill would authorize the court to prohibit the purchase of alcohol when the offense occ
Has AB 1605 passed the California Legislature?
It is in Assembly Appropriations. The last recorded action was on May 14, 2026.
Who supports and opposes AB 1605?
The Assembly Governmental Organization analysis dated April 21, 2026 lists 29 organizations in support and 12 in opposition. Supporters include Alcohol Justice; American Medical Response West; Arcadia Police Officers' Association. Opponents include ACLU California Action; All of US or None (HQ); Debt Free Justice California.
What happens next with AB 1605?
It still has committee and floor votes ahead of it. Amendments taken now are the ones that reach the Governor, so this is the stage where language changes are still possible.