Pictured from left to right: Jay Leno, Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) and Mike Spagnola, CEO and President of SEMA
Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) and Senator Dave Cortese (D–San Jose), today announced Senate Bill (SB) 1392, known as Leno’s Law and supported by Jay Leno and the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), has passed the Senate Floor and is moving toward the Governor’s desk.
Leno’s Law would extend full smog check exemptions to qualifying classic and collectible vehicles, beginning on January 1, 2028, with collector motor vehicles manufactured before the 1981 model year and then adding one model year through 2033, when the exemption would reach vehicles manufactured before the 1986 model year.
The proposal recognizes the unique status of classic cars as limited use, historically significant vehicles that represent less than 1 percent of all cars on California’s roads while contributing meaningfully to the state’s economy through cultural celebrations, tourism, and small business activity.
“For generations of California families, classic cars have brought grandfathers, fathers, sons and daughters together, from the shade tree mechanic working side by side with their grandchild, to the enthusiast who gets behind the wheel and is instantly taken back to their glory days,” said Senator Shannon Grove. “After years of working to find a solution that protects California’s classic car culture while addressing the state’s requirements, Leno’s Law gets us there. It is a focused, commonsense bill that keeps true collector vehicles in California, supports the small businesses that restore and celebrate them, and removes a burdensome requirement so enthusiasts can get back to what they do best, restoring and enjoying these pieces of California history. I am proud to stand with Senator Cortese, Jay Leno, SEMA, and collectors across the state as we take this effort to the finish line.”
“I want to thank Senator Shannon Grove and Senator Dave Cortese for getting this done,” said Jay Leno, former host of The Tonight Show and sponsor of the bill. “Look what happens when a Republican and a Democrat get in the same garage. They actually work together, and the car starts. This just goes to show we can work together and get things done.”
“California can protect clean air without erasing our automotive history. A classic car that spends most of its life in a garage and comes out for a parade, car show or charity event is not the same as a daily commuter, and our laws should recognize that,” said Senator Cortese. “SB 1392 brings common sense back to the smog-check system, protects a treasured part of California culture, and gives classic car owners a fair shot at preserving these pieces of history. We’ve cleared the Legislature. Now it’s time to put ‘Leno’s Law’ on the Governor’s desk and get it signed.”
“This bipartisan victory is a product of California’s automotive community uniting to remind the state’s lawmakers of the cultural significant of our cars and trucks, and of our sacred charge to pass this heritage on to the next generation,” said SEMA CEO Mike Spagnola. “We are grateful for Senators Cortese and Grove for their stewardship of this bill, and to Jay Leno for lending his name and passion on behalf of every car enthusiast and small business with a personal stake in preserving our automotive heritage. SEMA and California’s automotive community have one more request, and we respectfully ask Governor Newsom to finish the job and sign Leno’s Law.”
Leno’s Law also updates the definition of a “collector motor vehicle” under Vehicle Code section 259 so the exemption applies only to true classics, not daily drivers. Qualifying vehicles must be at least 35 model years old and must either carry collector insurance with proof submitted to the Bureau of Automotive Repair or be limited to 1,000 miles per year through a process developed by the Bureau of Automotive Repair.
Governor Newsom has 30 days to sign SB 1392 into law.
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