DUI License Law Updates: the Verified Changelog
The dated log of what changed, state by state. A change shows as in effect only once its date has arrived and we have confirmed it.
State legislatures rewrite DUI and reinstatement rules every session. This is the running log of the changes we have caught and verified against a primary source, from the recent sessions back to the one older change that still trips people up (West Virginia's 2020 removal of its administrative system, which stale guides still describe as current law). A change appears as in effect only once its effective date has arrived and we have confirmed it. The affected state page always shows the rule in force today.
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In effect January 1, 2026Washington · In effect
Washington extended the felony-DUI lookback to 15 years
Washington's felony-DUI lookback window grew from 10 to 15 years. The 7-year misdemeanor window that governs a standard first offense is unchanged. Reflected on the Washington page.
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In effect January 1, 2026Rhode Island · In effect
Rhode Island's alcohol-education fee rose to $405
The education-program fee tied to Rhode Island reinstatement rose from $350 to $405, beside the $353.50 reinstatement fee itself. Reflected on the Rhode Island page.
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In effect August 1, 2025Minnesota · In effect
Minnesota added a treatment-completion condition for some drivers
Minnesota now requires treatment completion before full reinstatement for drivers with prior offenses or an injury or death case. The standard first-offense path is unchanged. Reflected on the Minnesota page.
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In effect July 1, 2025South Dakota · In effect
SB 3 flattened the first-offense reinstatement fee to $100
South Dakota replaced a tiered fee range with a flat $100 reinstatement fee for a first-offense DUI. Higher tiers at $150 and $200 apply to repeat offenses. Reflected on the South Dakota page.
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In effect April 9, 2025Ohio · In effect
Ohio's reinstatement fee rose to $315
The Ohio BMV's reinstatement fee for an OVI suspension now stands at $315, confirmed on the BMV's own fee schedule. Reflected on the Ohio page.
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In effect January 1, 2025Iowa · In effect
Iowa made the interlock uniform for any first-offense restricted license
Iowa replaced its old BAC-and-accident interlock tiers with one rule: any first-offense temporary restricted license requires the device. Older guides still describe the pre-2025 tiers. Reflected on the Iowa page.
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In effect October 2024Maryland · In effect
HB 105 expanded interlock participation for first offenders
Maryland widened first-time offenders' access to the ignition interlock program, with a further conviction-revocation change that took effect October 1, 2025. Reflected on the Maryland page.
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In effect July 1, 2024Louisiana · In effect
Act 9 raised the administrative first-offense suspension to 180 days
Louisiana raised the administrative suspension for a first offense from 90 to 180 days and moved the enhanced administrative tier down to a 0.15 test result. Reflected on the Louisiana page.
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In effect May 19, 2024South Carolina · In effect
South Carolina moved to all-offender interlock
South Carolina now requires the ignition interlock for every first offense. Entering the interlock program ends a first offender's suspension rather than running beside a flat waiting period. Reflected on the South Carolina page.
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In effect February 19, 2024New Jersey · In effect
New Jersey reshaped first-offense penalties and interlock terms
New Jersey rewrote its first-offense structure: a 0.15-or-higher first offense now carries a 3-month license forfeiture followed by a 12 to 15 month interlock term and a driver earns credit for installing the interlock voluntarily before conviction. Reflected on the New Jersey page.
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In effect July 1, 2020West Virginia · In effect
West Virginia abolished administrative license revocation
Since mid-2020, West Virginia license consequences flow from the court conviction alone, with no DMV hearing to request. Many guides online still describe the abolished administrative system. The West Virginia page reflects the current conviction-driven structure. Reflected on the West Virginia page.
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Enacted 2025Georgia · Enacted, confirm date
SB 121 raised the SR-22 liability minimums
Georgia raised the minimum liability limits behind the SR-22 filing tied to DUI reinstatement. Confirm the exact effective date and scope with the Georgia agency; the Georgia page reflects the rule in force today.
Get an alert when your state changes
Grab your state's free reinstatement checklist from your state page and we will email you when a rule that affects a driver mid-process changes in your state. It is the same list, kept current.
An independent reference project, not a state agency or law firm. Educational information, not legal advice. Confirm the current rules with your state before you act.