California 2021-2022 Regular Session Status: Passed Assembly Bipartisan · 2 R · 1 D cosponsors

AB 723 — Foreign driver's licenses.

Last action — Re-referred to Com. on APPR. pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.2.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Assembly
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2021-2022 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Assembly” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Existing law prohibits a person from having in the person's possession or otherwise under the person's control more than one driver's license. Existing law prohibits the Department of Motor Vehicles from issuing a driver's license, or renewing a driver's license, of a person who holds a valid driver's license issued by a foreign jurisdiction unless the license has been surrendered to the department, or is lost or destroyed. Except as specified, existing law requires the department to require an applicant for an original driver's license to submit satisfactory proof of California residency and that the applicant's presence in the United States is authorized under federal law. Existing law requires the department, upon application for an original driver's license, except a student license, to require an examination of the applicant. Existing law requires the examination to test, among other things, the applicant's knowledge and understanding of the provisions of the Vehicle Code governing the operation of vehicles upon the highways, an actual demonstration of the applicant's ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in operating a motor vehicle by driving it under the supervision of an examining officer, and a test of the hearing and eyesight of the applicant, as specified. Existing law authorizes the department to waive the driving test part of the examination for an applicant who submits a license issued by another state, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico if the department verifies through any acknowledged national driver record data source that there are no stops, holds, or other impediments to its issuance. This bill, commencing on July 1, 2025, would authorize the department, for purposes of the issuance of a noncommercial class C driver's license, to the extent not prohibited by federal law or treaty, to waive the driving test part of the examination for an applicant who submits a driver's license issued by a foreign nation, as defined, under specified conditions, including a requirement that the foreign nation, in a memorandum of understanding, extends the same reciprocal privilege relating to the issuance of a driver's license to a person who holds a valid California driver's license. The bill would require an applicant to be 18 years of age or older, to submit satisfactory proof of California residency and specified documents issued by the foreign nation, and to have no stops, holds, or other impediments to issuance in the person's driving record. The bill would specify that an applicant may submit a driver's license issued by a foreign nation that is equivalent to a noncommercial or a commercial class A, class B, or class C California driver's license, but would require the California driver's license issued by the department to the applicant to be a noncommercial class C driver's license only. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 12804.9 of the Vehicle Code proposed by SB 287 to be operative only if this bill and SB 287 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Re-referred to Com. on APPR. pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.2.

  2. In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

  3. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 33. Noes 5. Page 2499.).

  4. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  5. Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

  6. Reconsideration granted. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 2299.)

  7. Motion to reconsider made by Senator Portantino.

  8. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 32. Noes 7. Page 2299.).

  9. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  10. Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.

  11. From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 26).

  12. In committee: Referred to APPR suspense file.

  13. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  14. In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.

  15. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 3.) (July 13). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  16. Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.

  17. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.

  18. Withdrawn from committee.

  19. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on B., P. & E.D.

  20. Referred to Com. on B., P. & E.D.

  21. In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

  22. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 1793.)

  23. Ordered to third reading.

  24. From inactive file.

  25. Notice of intention to remove from inactive file given by Assembly Member Low.

  26. Ordered to inactive file at the request of Assembly Member Low.

  27. From Consent Calendar.

  28. Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.

  29. From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 14).

  30. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (March 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  31. Referred to Com. on B. & P.

  32. From printer. May be heard in committee March 19.

  33. Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 5 co-sponsors · 116 not signed on · 3 voted No

Sponsors (1)

  • Low

Co-sponsors (5)

Not signed on (116)

116 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

3rd Reading AB723 Low et al. By Portantino

Passed 33 Yea · 5 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 12001
Unaffiliated 19301
Republican 2200
Total 33502
% of votes cast 83%13%0%5%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Kamlager — Yea
Wilk — Yea
Leyva — Yea
Rubio — Yea
Hertzberg — Yea
Pan — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Borgeas — Yea
Gonzalez — Yea
Skinner — Yea
Glazer — Yea
Min — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Atkins — Yea
Dodd — Yea
Wieckowski — Yea
Roth — Yea
Hueso — Yea
Newman — Yea
Melendez — Nay
Bates — Nay
Nielsen — Nay
Eggman — Not Voting
Allen, Benjamin Democratic Yea
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Yea
Becker, Josh Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Yea
Cortese, Dave Democratic Yea
Durazo, Maria Elena Democratic Yea
Hurtado, Melissa Democratic Yea
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Yea
Stern, Henry I. Democratic Not Voting
Umberg, Thomas J. Democratic Yea
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Nay
Grove, Shannon Republican Yea
Jones, Brian W. Republican Nay
Ochoa Bogh, Rosilicie Republican Yea

Official roll call →

3rd Reading AB723 Low et al. By Portantino Reconsider

Passed 39 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 23000
Democratic 12001
Republican 4000
Total 39001
% of votes cast 98%0%0%3%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Glazer — Yea
Roth — Yea
Wilk — Yea
Skinner — Yea
Dodd — Yea
Kamlager — Yea
Newman — Yea
Nielsen — Yea
Min — Yea
Leyva — Yea
Hueso — Yea
Bates — Yea
Borgeas — Yea
Pan — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Rubio — Yea
Wieckowski — Yea
Eggman — Yea
Melendez — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Gonzalez — Yea
Hertzberg — Yea
Atkins — Yea
Allen, Benjamin Democratic Yea
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Yea
Becker, Josh Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Yea
Cortese, Dave Democratic Yea
Durazo, Maria Elena Democratic Yea
Hurtado, Melissa Democratic Yea
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Yea
Stern, Henry I. Democratic Not Voting
Umberg, Thomas J. Democratic Yea
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Yea
Grove, Shannon Republican Yea
Jones, Brian W. Republican Yea
Ochoa Bogh, Rosilicie Republican Yea

Official roll call →

3rd Reading AB723 Low et al. By Portantino

Passed 32 Yea · 7 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 19400
Democratic 12001
Republican 1300
Total 32701
% of votes cast 80%18%0%3%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Gonzalez — Yea
Hertzberg — Yea
Atkins — Yea
Glazer — Yea
Roth — Yea
Skinner — Yea
Dodd — Yea
Kamlager — Yea
Newman — Yea
Min — Yea
Leyva — Yea
Hueso — Yea
Borgeas — Yea
Pan — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Rubio — Yea
Wieckowski — Yea
Eggman — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Bates — Nay
Melendez — Nay
Wilk — Nay
Nielsen — Nay
Allen, Benjamin Democratic Yea
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Yea
Becker, Josh Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Yea
Cortese, Dave Democratic Yea
Durazo, Maria Elena Democratic Yea
Hurtado, Melissa Democratic Yea
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Yea
Stern, Henry I. Democratic Not Voting
Umberg, Thomas J. Democratic Yea
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Nay
Grove, Shannon Republican Nay
Jones, Brian W. Republican Nay
Ochoa Bogh, Rosilicie Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Do pass as amended

Passed 5 Yea · 2 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 2000
Unaffiliated 3100
Republican 0100
Total 5200
% of votes cast 71%29%0%0%
How each member voted (7)
Member Party Vote
Kamlager — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Bates — Nay
Laird, John Democratic Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Yea
Jones, Brian W. Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Placed on suspense file

Passed 7 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 5000
Democratic 1000
Republican 1000
Total 7000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (7)
Member Party Vote
Wieckowski — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Bates — Yea
Kamlager — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Jones, Brian W. Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

Passed 13 Yea · 3 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 8200
Democratic 5001
Republican 0100
Total 13301
% of votes cast 76%18%0%6%
How each member voted (17)
Member Party Vote
Gonzalez — Yea
Wieckowski — Yea
Wilk — Yea
Dodd — Yea
Newman — Yea
Skinner — Yea
Min — Yea
Rubio — Yea
Bates — Nay
Melendez — Nay
Allen, Benjamin Democratic Yea
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Not Voting
Becker, Josh Democratic Yea
Cortese, Dave Democratic Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Yea
Umberg, Thomas J. Democratic Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Nay

Official roll call →

AB 723 Low Assembly Third Reading

Passed 77 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 28000
Unaffiliated 40001
Republican 9001
Total 77002
% of votes cast 97%0%0%3%
How each member voted (79)
Member Party Vote
Bloom — Yea
Mullin — Yea
Holden — Yea
Jones-Sawyer — Yea
Wood — Yea
Smith — Yea
Cunningham — Yea
Chau — Yea
Gray — Not Voting
Cooper — Yea
Voepel — Yea
Cooley — Yea
Maienschein — Yea
Rodriguez — Yea
Kiley — Yea
Nazarian — Yea
Ting — Yea
O'Donnell — Yea
Waldron — Yea
Medina — Yea
McCarty — Yea
Friedman — Yea
Bigelow — Yea
Chiu — Yea
Rendon — Yea
Villapudua — Yea
Salas — Yea
Quirk — Yea
Low — Yea
Levine — Yea
Daly — Yea
Burke — Yea
Mathis — Yea
Santiago — Yea
Mayes — Yea
Frazier — Yea
Cristina Garcia — Yea
Eduardo Garcia — Yea
Lorena Gonzalez — Yea
Luz Rivas — Yea
Mark Stone — Yea
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Yea
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Bauer-Kahan, Rebecca Democratic Yea
Bennett, Steve Democratic Yea
Berman, Marc Democratic Yea
Boerner, Tasha Democratic Yea
Bryan, Isaac G. Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Carrillo, Juan Democratic Yea
Cervantes, Sabrina Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
Gabriel, Jesse Democratic Yea
Gipson, Mike A. Democratic Yea
Grayson, Timothy S. Democratic Yea
Irwin, Jacqui Democratic Yea
Kalra, Ash Democratic Yea
Lee, Alex Democratic Yea
Muratsuchi, Al Democratic Yea
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Yea
Petrie-Norris, Cottie Democratic Yea
Quirk-Silva, Sharon Democratic Yea
Ramos, James C. Democratic Yea
Reyes, Eloise Gómez Democratic Yea
Rivas, Robert Democratic Yea
Rubio, Blanca E. Democratic Yea
Ward, Christopher M. Democratic Yea
Weber Pierson, M.D., Akilah Democratic Yea
Wicks, Buffy Democratic Yea
Chen, Phillip Republican Yea
Choi, Steven S. Republican Not Voting
Dahle, Megan Republican Yea
Davies, Laurie Republican Yea
Flora, Heath Republican Yea
Gallagher, James Republican Yea
Lackey, Tom Republican Yea
Patterson, Joe Republican Yea
Seyarto, Kelly Republican Yea
Valladares, Suzette Martinez Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Do pass. To Consent Calendar.

Passed 16 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 7000
Democratic 7000
Republican 2000
Total 16000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (16)
Member Party Vote
Levine — Yea
Quirk — Yea
Bigelow — Yea
Chau — Yea
McCarty — Yea
Eduardo Garcia — Yea
Lorena Gonzalez — Yea
Bonta, Mia Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Carrillo, Juan Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
Gabriel, Jesse Democratic Yea
Reyes, Eloise Gómez Democratic Yea
Rivas, Robert Democratic Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Yea
Davies, Laurie Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar

Passed 17 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 8001
Republican 3000
Democratic 6001
Total 17002
% of votes cast 89%0%0%11%
How each member voted (19)
Member Party Vote
Bloom — Yea
Cunningham — Yea
Salas — Yea
Chiu — Yea
Low — Yea
Holden — Yea
Medina — Yea
McCarty — Yea
Mullin — Not Voting
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Berman, Marc Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
Gipson, Mike A. Democratic Yea
Grayson, Timothy S. Democratic Yea
Irwin, Jacqui Democratic Not Voting
Ward, Christopher M. Democratic Yea
Chen, Phillip Republican Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Yea
Flora, Heath Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

immigration transportation
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Frequently asked questions

What does AB 723 do?
Existing law prohibits a person from having in the person's possession or otherwise under the person's control more than one driver's license. Existing law prohibits the Department of Motor Vehicles from issuing a driver's license, or renewing a driver's license, of a person who holds a valid driver's license issued by a foreign jurisdiction unless the license has been surrendered to the department, or is lost or destroyed. Except as specified, existing law requires the department to require an applicant for an original driver's license to submit satisfactory proof of California residency and that the applicant's presence in the United States is authorized under federal law. Existing law requires the department, upon application for an original driver's license, except a student license, to require an examination of the applicant. Existing law requires the examination to test, among other things, the applicant's knowledge and understanding of the provisions of the Vehicle Code governing the operation of vehicles upon the highways, an actual demonstration of the applicant's ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in operating a motor vehicle by driving it under the supervision of an examining officer, and a test of the hearing and eyesight of the applicant, as specified. Existing law authorizes the department to waive the driving test part of the examination for an applicant who submits a license issued by another state, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico if the department verifies through any acknowledged national driver record data source that there are no stops, holds, or other impediments to its issuance. This bill, commencing on July 1, 2025, would authorize the department, for purposes of the issuance of a noncommercial class C driver's license, to the extent not prohibited by federal law or treaty, to waive the driving test part of the examination for an applicant who submits a driver's license issued by a foreign nation, as defined, under specified conditions, including a requirement that the foreign nation, in a memorandum of understanding, extends the same reciprocal privilege relating to the issuance of a driver's license to a person who holds a valid California driver's license. The bill would require an applicant to be 18 years of age or older, to submit satisfactory proof of California residency and specified documents issued by the foreign nation, and to have no stops, holds, or other impediments to issuance in the person's driving record. The bill would specify that an applicant may submit a driver's license issued by a foreign nation that is equivalent to a noncommercial or a commercial class A, class B, or class C California driver's license, but would require the California driver's license issued by the department to the applicant to be a noncommercial class C driver's license only. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 12804.9 of the Vehicle Code proposed by SB 287 to be operative only if this bill and SB 287 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.
Who sponsors AB 723?
AB 723 is sponsored by Low, Portantino, Chau, Chen, Phillip (Republican), Choi, Steven S. (Republican), and Quirk-Silva, Sharon (Democratic).
What is the current status of AB 723?
This bill died with 2021-2022 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Assembly” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track AB 723?
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