California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill 1392, widely known as Leno's Law, into effect. The legislation introduces a rolling exemption from smog-check requirements for specific collector vehicles. The process is scheduled to begin in January 2028 and will continue annually through 2033.
Starting in 2028, vehicles from the 1980 model year and earlier will become eligible for the exemption. The policy will expand by one model year each subsequent year, eventually covering cars built before 1986 by 2033. This change complements existing exemptions for vehicles built before 1976 and diesel models from before 1998.
The new law includes specific eligibility criteria. To qualify, a vehicle must be officially registered as a collector car or driven for fewer than 1,000 miles per year. These requirements limit the scope of the exemption, as vehicles not meeting these conditions or those driven frequently remain subject to standard emissions testing.
Industry representatives, including SEMA CEO Mike Spagnola, have characterized the bill as a significant development for the state's automotive community. The legislation was supported by state senators, automotive advocates, and television personality Jay Leno, who campaigned for the measure to preserve classic car heritage in California.
