Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is excited to announce the “2022 Legislators of the Year” – 65 state lawmakers honored for their tireless work and commitment to advancing MADD’s mission. This is the eighth year MADD has recognized legislative champions.
“People are dying on America’s roads at levels not seen since 2002, but these 65 lawmakers are taking action to reverse the deadly trend,” said MADD National President Alex Otte. “MADD is grateful for the commitment of these legislative champions to eliminating the 100% preventable crime of impaired driving and boating, protecting their communities and supporting victims and survivors whose lives were forever changed by someone else’s choice.”
The 2022 Legislators of the Year:
Alabama
Representative Arnold Mooney authored HB 156 aimed at improving the implementation of the 2018 ignition interlock law, which requires these devices for all plea or diversion agreements. HB 156 would eliminate the sunset date of this important law.
Representative Proncey Robertson authored Bentley’s Law (HB 114) to require impaired drivers to pay child support when an impaired driver causes a crash that kills a parent or guardian.
Representative Ginny Shaver authored HB 489 to improve the boating under the influence law.
Arizona
Senator Tyler Pace authored SB 1334, which become law, representing the biggest improvement to Arizona’s impaired driving law since 2007, when the state became one of the first states to enact an all-offender ignition interlock law. Senator Pace’s legislation improves the implementation of this lifesaving law by allowing for the use ignition interlock upon license revocation.
California
In 2021, Assembly Member Tom Lackey authored AB 282 forbidding the practice of diversion for impaired drivers that had become common place as a result of a 2020 law (AB 3234). Assembly Member Lackey’s legislation passed the Assembly but failed in the Senate. Thankfully, two appellate court decisions in California invalidated the 2020 law, accomplishing the goal of Assembly Member Lackey’s legislation.
Colorado
Senator John Cooke, Senator Chris Hansen, Minority Leader Hugh McKean, and Representative Dylan Roberts sponsored Senate Bill 22-055 Alcohol Monitoring For Impaired Driving Offenders, which increases access to ignition interlocks for all DUI offenders and requires continuous alcohol monitoring for a third DUI offense. This law will help prevent repeat offenses and save lives and prevent injuries on our roads.
Representative Shannon Bird provided crucial leadership to protect Colorado’s uniform 2 a.m. bar closing time and prevent increased drunk driving crashes at a time when impaired driving fatalities are already at a 20-year high in Colorado.
Florida
In 2022, Representative Joe Casello and Senator Lori Berman authored HB 271 and SB 436 to improve the drug-impaired driving law. Florida is one of only six states that require a charge of driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs, only if the drug is an inhalant as listed in FSS 877.111 or a drug that is specified in chapter 893. HB 271 and SB 436 would have expanded the definition of a DUI by adding the language “or any other impairing substance, or any combination thereof.” The legislation failed.
In 2021, Representative Tyler Sirois and Senator Travis Hutson authored HB 639 and SB 436 to improve the boating under influence law.
Georgia
Representative Bill Hitchens authored all-offender interlock legislation HB 439 that would have made Georgia the 35th state to require interlocks for all drunk drivers. The legislation passed a legislative committee but failed in another.
Illinois
Former Senator John Connor authored Bentley’s Law (SB 3095) to require impaired drivers to pay child support when an impaired driver causes a crash that kills a parent or guardian.
Representative Tom Weber successfully authored HB 5496 changing the word “Accident” to “crash” throughout state statute.
Kentucky
Representative Patrick Flannery successfully authored HB 154 to improve the refusal law by making it easier for law enforcement and prosecutors to obtain a warrant to test suspected impaired drivers who refuse a test.
Senator Ralph Alvarado authored SB 35 that allows for education for boaters to inform them of the dangers of BUI and other boating safety hazards. Currently, a BUI conviction only allows for a fine OR jail time. SB 35 allows but does not mandate that a BUI conviction could result in both jail time and a fine.
Louisiana
Representative Mark Wright authored HB 769 to improve the implementation of Louisiana’s 2007 all-offender ignition interlock law. The proposal represented the biggest improvement to the state impaired driving law in 15 years. The legislation failed.
Representative Jonathan Goudeau authored Cody’s and Bentley’s Law (HB 51) to require impaired drivers to pay child support when an impaired driver causes a crash that kills a parent or guardian.
Maryland
Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary and Senator Jeff Waldstreicher authored SB 653 and HB 557 to mandate the use of ignition interlocks for Probation Before Judgment (diversion) agreements for drunk drivers. In Maryland, most first-time convicted drunk drivers enter into these plea agreements and avoid the mandatory use of an ignition interlock.
Delegate Geraldine Valentino-Smith and Senator Jack Bailey authored boating under the influence reform HB 967 and SB 914 to increase for manslaughter and homicide by vehicle or vessel. It also establishes that certain previous convictions for drunk and drugged operation of a vehicle or vessel and grossly negligent manslaughter by vehicle or vessel under certain provisions of law constitute prior convictions for the purpose of determining certain enhanced subsequent penalties for offenders.
Missouri
Representative Mike Henderson authored Bentley’s Law (HB 1954) to require impaired drivers to pay child support when an impaired driver causes a crash that kills a parent or guardian.
Representative Mark Sharp authored HB 1690 to improve the all-offender ignition interlock law. Specifically, the proposal requires the use of ignition interlocks for first-time convicted drunk drivers for at least six months.
New Jersey
Senate President Nicolas Scutari authored all-offender interlock legislation since 2012. In 2019, New Jersey became the 34th state to enact an all-offender law thanks to his leadership. This year, he authored SB 3011 to extend the sunset date of this lifesaving law.
New York
Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner and Senator Jeremy Cooney authored A 1325 and S 6598 to improve the all-offender ignition interlock law. The legislation passed the Senate but failed in the Assembly. This legislation includes many fixes to the ignition interlock law. Currently, only 26% of arrested drunk drivers in New York install the device. Among other provisions, this legislation would ensure ignition interlocks are required for any plea deals.
Assemblyman William Magnarelli authored A 9554 to improve the drug-impaired driving law. New York is one of a handful of states that allows law enforcement to arrest suspected drug-impaired drivers only if the officer can name the drug and it’s on the list of illegal substances. The proposal makes New York the 45th state to not rely on a list and makes many other improvements to the drug-impaired driving law.
Senator John Liu and Assemblywoman Jo Anne Simon authored S 131 and A 7197 lowering the illegal blood alcohol concentration from .08 to .05.
Senator Brad Hoylman and Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein authored the Grieving Families Act (S 74/A 6770). The legislation will update and expand New York’s antiquated wrongful death laws and make sure that the worth of loved family members is no longer based solely on their value as wage earners. The proposal passed the Legislature and is pending the Governor’s signature.
Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre and Senator James Gaughran authored A 911 and S 947 to allow for Leandra’s Law provisions to also apply for boating under the influence. The legislation is pending the Governor’s signature.
Assemblywoman Sandy Galef and Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick authored Bryan Johnson’s Law (A 6101 and S 4733) to improve the boating under the influence law. The legislation includes prior convictions of operation of a vessel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs as prior convictions of driving while intoxicated.
North Carolina
In 2021, Representative John Faircloth and Senator Daniel Britt successfully authored HB 402 and SB 183 to close loopholes in the ignition interlock law. Some of the key provisions of the new law eliminates the waiting period prior to interlock installation and also removes time and route restrictions when a person utilizes an interlock.
Ohio
Representative Diane Grendell authored Bentley’s Law (HB 640) to require impaired drivers to pay child support when an impaired driver causes a crash that kills a parent or guardian.
Oklahoma
Senator Darrell Weaver authored Bentley’s Law (SB 1744) to require impaired drivers to pay child support when an impaired driver causes a crash that kills a parent or guardian.
Senator Kim David successfully authored SB 366 improving the implementation of the ignition interlock law. Senator David authored previous laws improving the ignition interlock law in previous sessions.
Pennsylvania
Representative Christopher Quinn successfully authored Deana’s Law (HB 773) improving the repeat offender law.
Senator Marty Flynn authored Bentley’s Law (SB 1744) to require impaired drivers to pay child support when an impaired driver causes a crash that kills a parent or guardian.
South Carolina
Senator Brad Hutto authored S 28 to create an all-offender ignition interlock law. The legislation passed the Senate but failed in the House.
Tennessee
Speaker Cameron Sexton successfully authored Truth in Sentencing law (HB 2656) which included provisions requiring impaired drivers who cause fatal or injury crashes to serve the full amount of their time before being released.
Representative Mark Hall and now retired Senator Mike Bell made Tennessee the first state to enact legislation to require impaired drivers to pay child support when an impaired driver causes a crash that kills a parent or guardian. The proposal is known as Ethan’s, Hailey’s, and Bentley’s Law.
Senator Jack Johnson and Representative William Lamberth successfully authored SB 2434 and HB 2184 making improvements to the implementation of the ignition interlock law.
Representative Brandon Ogles and Senator Dawn White successfully authored Nicholas Law (HB 2270 and SB 2736) improving the boating under the influence law. The law specifies that a prior conviction for the offense of boating under the influence must be treated the same as a prior conviction for driving under the influence of an intoxicant for purposes of determining punishment for a violation of driving under the influence of an intoxicant.
In 2021, Senator Becky Massey and Representative Dale Carr successfully authored SB 246 and HB 679 improving the boating under the influence law. The legislation aligns penalties for boating under the influence with the penalties for driving under the influence; clarifies that the offenses of vehicular assault, aggravated vehicular assault, vehicular homicide, and aggravated vehicular homicide may be committed by a person boating under the influence.
Vermont
Representative George Till authored HB 733 lowering the illegal blood alcohol concentration from .08 to .05.
Virginia
Delegate Chris Runion authored HB 984, which allows the ability for victims to obtain just compensation if an alcoholic beverage or cannabis retail licensee overserves an underage drinking driver who causes a crash resulting in bodily injury or property damage. Currently, victims of impaired driving crashes have little civil recourse in Virginia
Senator Mark Obenshain authored SB 555, which allows the ability for victims to obtain just compensation if an alcohol beverage retail licensee overserves an underage drinking driver who causes a crash resulting in bodily injury or property damage. Specifically, SB 555 creates a course of action against an alcoholic beverage control retail licensee who sells alcohol to an underage person who was visibly intoxicated if the consumption of the alcohol caused or contributed to an injury to person or damage to a property while the underage person operated a motor vehicle. The plaintiff must prove such negligence by a clear and convincing evidence standard.
Senator Emmett Hanger authored SB 230, which allows the ability for victims to obtain just compensation if an alcohollc beverage retail licensee overserves a drinking driver who causes a crash resulting in bodily injury or property damage. Specifically, SB 230 creates a course of action against an alcoholic beverage control retail licensee who sells alcohol to a customer who subsequently injures another by driving while impaired if the consumption of the alcohol caused or contributed to an injury to person or damage to a property while the customer operated a motor vehicle.
Delegate Jeffrey Campbell authored Bentley’s Law (HB 136) to require impaired drivers to pay child support when an impaired driver causes a crash that kills a parent or guardian.
Washington
Senator John Lovick and Senator Marko Liias authored SB 5982 lowering the illegal blood alcohol concentration from .08 to .05.
Wisconsin
Senator Chris Larson and Representative Deb Andraca authored all-offender ignition interlock legislation SB 788 and AB 810. The pair of lawmakers also authored legislation that requires Wisconsin join the national Driver License Compact, which allows for the sharing of driver’s license record between state DMVs.
