Assembly BillVetoedVehicle
AB 2502: Vehicles: driving under the influence: driving automation.
What AB 2502 does, verified October 5, 2026
This bill would amend the Vehicle Code to expand the definition of "drive" to include the volitional movement of a vehicle with specified levels of driving automation. The bill aims to clarify the law regarding driving under the influence (DUI) in relation to autonomous vehicles. It would state that a person can be considered to be driving under the influence if they intentionally move a vehicle with autonomous capabilities, regardless of whether they are actively controlling it. This change would require local agencies and school districts to implement a state-mandated program. The bill also specifies that reimbursement is not required for the costs associated with implementing this new provision.
Bill journey
✓IntroducedComplete
✓In CommitteeComplete
✓First Chamber FloorComplete
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5GovernorCurrent
6ChapteredPending
Last action: Vetoed by Governor. (2026-09-27)Alert me
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $16/moUnlockRecent actions23 total · showing 5
| Sep. 27, 2026 | Vetoed by Governor. |
| Sep. 03, 2026 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m. |
| Aug. 26, 2026 | Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 6585.). |
| Aug. 25, 2026 | In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. |
| Aug. 25, 2026 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 38. Noes 0.). |
Latest bill textEnrolled version, August 30, 2026 · 515 words
| Enrolled August 30, 2026 |
| Passed IN Senate August 25, 2026 |
| Passed IN Assembly August 26, 2026 |
| Amended IN Senate August 21, 2026 |
| Amended IN Senate July 02, 2026 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 2502
| Introduced by Assembly Member Pellerin (Coauthor: Assembly Member Alanis) |
February 20, 2026 |
An act to add Section 23152.1 to the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2502, Pellerin. Vehicles: driving under the influence: driving automation.
Existing law makes it unlawful for a person who has 0.08% or more, by weight, of alcohol in their blood to drive a vehicle or to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs and prescribes certain penalties depending on additional facts, such as whether the driving resulted in an injury to another. Existing decisional law holds that the slight volitional movement of the vehicle is sufficient for a driving under the influence violation.
This bill would state that for the purposes of a driving under the influence violation, “drive” includes the volitional movement of a vehicle with driver support features engaged that require a person to supervise the vehicle in order to steer, brake, or accelerate, as needed to maintain safety. To the extent that this bill would expand the scope of a crime, it 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.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 23152.1 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:23152.1.
For the purposes of Section 191.5 of the Penal Code, and Section 23103, as specified in Section 23103.5, 23152, or 23153, “drive” includes the volitional movement of a vehicle with driver support features engaged that require a person to supervise the vehicle in order to steer, brake, or accelerate, as needed to maintain safety. This includes driver support features that require constant supervision and those that require a person to take direct control of the vehicle upon the request of the driver support feature. The term “drive” does not include operating a vehicle with driver support features engaged that do not require a person to supervise the vehicle in order to steer, brake, or accelerate, as needed to maintain safety, and will not request a person to take direct control of the vehicle.SEC. 2.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.Text of AB 2502 as enrolled, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions