California Enacts 'Braun's Law' and Broader DUI Reforms to Target Repeat Offenders

Key points

• SB 907, named after 18-year-old Braun Levi, requires courts to issue formal warnings to DUI defendants even if charges are reduced, enabling prosecutors to file murder charges for future fatal crashes.
• AB 1546 makes a third DUI within 10 years a 'wobbler' offense and a fifth conviction a felony carrying up to three years in prison.
• AB 1687 extends license revocation for repeat offenders from three to six years, while AB 1685 increases DMV points for vehicular manslaughter convictions.
• The legislation was signed at the home of Braun Levi's family, with his mother Jennifer Levi praising the governor for acting on their advocacy.
• The suspect in Levi's death, Jenia Belt, remains in custody and faces up to life in prison if convicted.

Background

This legislation follows a year of advocacy by the Levi family after Braun was killed in May 2025. Earlier coverage noted that while these bills passed, some broader safety reforms proposed during the session failed to advance. The new laws aim to close loopholes that previously allowed repeat offenders to avoid severe charges.

How outlets are covering it

Supporters, including Sen. Bob Archuleta and Assemblymember Tom Lackey, emphasized the personal and public safety impact of the laws, calling them a necessary step to prevent tragedies. ABC7 and FOX 11 highlighted the emotional testimony of Braun's mother and the governor's direct involvement. The New York Post noted that social justice groups, such as Smart Justice California, opposed the measures, arguing that harsher penalties disproportionately affect lower-income individuals and that existing deterrents are sufficient. The LA Times focused on the technical changes to felony thresholds and license suspensions, noting that some provisions will not take effect until 2031 or 2033.

Why it matters

These laws represent a significant shift in California's approach to repeat DUI offenders, aiming to deter impaired driving through stricter penalties and clearer legal consequences. The legislation directly responds to high-profile fatalities and seeks to address public concerns about the state's previous leniency toward repeat offenders.

What to watch

The criminal case against Jenia Belt is scheduled for a pretrial hearing on Oct. 22. Jennifer Levi has announced plans to return to the state capitol to push for additional statutory changes, specifically seeking to classify DUI resulting in death as a violent felony. Some of the new penalties, such as extended license revocations, will not take effect until 2031 or 2033.