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Jay Leno is back in the fight for classic cars in California, and this time the proposal has a clearer path than it did before. A revived measure known as “Leno’s Law” is once again moving through the state legislature, aiming to exempt older collector vehicles from California’s strict smog check requirements. For enthusiasts in the state, this isn’t an abstract policy debate — it’s a direct question about whether classic cars can realistically stay street-legal in one of the most heavily regulated states in the country.
A Second Attempt at a Familiar Idea
The proposal, now filed as California Senate Bill 1392, reworks an earlier effort that failed in 2025. That version stalled largely over administrative cost concerns tied to updating DMV systems, rather than any lack of enthusiast support. This time, the bill is backed by Senator Dave Cortese, Senator Shannon Grove, and Jay Leno himself, and it focuses on redefining what legally counts as a “collector motor vehicle” under state law.
What SB 1392 Would Actually Change
If passed, SB 1392 would allow vehicles at least 35 years old to skip California’s smog testing requirements — but not without conditions. Qualifying vehicles would need to be classified as collector cars, used primarily for exhibitions, events, or limited recreational driving, and not relied on as a primary mode of transportation.
The rollout is deliberately gradual rather than immediate. Starting January 1, 2027, vehicles built before the 1981 model year would qualify. Each year after that, the exemption would expand by one additional model year, meaning that by 2032, vehicles built before 1986 would be covered. It’s a phased approach clearly designed to ease the transition rather than open the exemption all at once.
Why Owners Say This Matters
For plenty of classic car owners in California, smog testing has become one of the single biggest obstacles to keeping older vehicles road-legal. Cars built in the 1970s and 1980s were never designed with modern emissions systems in mind, and finding parts — or even shops equipped to tune them into passing current-day standards — has gotten harder every year. In practice, that leaves owners parking cars indefinitely, spending significant money chasing compliance, or pulling vehicles off the road entirely. Supporters argue that these cars represent a small fraction of total statewide emissions, given how infrequently they’re actually driven, framing the bill less as an emissions rollback and more as a recognition that a car driven a few hundred miles a year for shows isn’t the same thing as a daily commuter.
The Environmental Pushback
Not everyone agrees with that framing. Older vehicles, particularly V8-powered classics, do produce meaningfully higher emissions per mile than modern cars, and environmental groups have historically opposed exemptions like this on the grounds that loosening standards — even for low-mileage, limited-use vehicles — undermines the state’s broader emissions goals. California maintains some of the strictest environmental regulations in the country, and any proposal that reduces oversight tends to draw scrutiny by default. That tension sits at the center of the debate: preserving automotive heritage on one side, continued emissions control in a state already fighting air quality battles on the other.
Why This Version May Fare Better
Supporters believe this version of the bill has better odds than its predecessor for a few specific reasons. The phased rollout softens concerns about an abrupt, all-at-once impact. Broader shifts at the federal level around emissions regulation may also be shifting the overall political landscape in ways that give the bill more room to move. And then there’s Leno himself, whose involvement goes well beyond a celebrity endorsement — he’s one of the most recognized car collectors in the country, with a personal collection exceeding 180 vehicles, giving the bill real visibility and credibility in both enthusiast and legislative circles.
“I am very excited about it,” Leno said. “We came very close last time. A lot of bills don’t pass on the first go-around. I am hopeful it will pass this time.”
What This Represents Beyond Emissions Testing
At its core, SB 1392 isn’t only about smog checks. It’s a test of whether states like California are willing to carve out space for older vehicles as the broader automotive landscape shifts toward electrification and tighter emissions enforcement. Classic cars increasingly sit in an awkward middle ground — not modern enough to comply easily with current standards, but too culturally significant to simply phase out.
What Happens Next
The bill still has a long way to go before it could become law, including debate, likely amendments, and opposition from environmental advocates before any final vote. But the fact that it’s back in the legislature and drawing renewed attention is significant on its own. For many classic car owners in the state, this was never just about passing an emissions test — it’s about whether they’ll still be allowed to legally drive the cars they’ve spent years, and often small fortunes, preserving.
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