California will hand you $3,500 to buy an electric car. It will also, apparently, vote 49–4 to let certain vintage gas-burners skip emissions tests entirely. That contradiction is now sitting on Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk.
SB 1392 — known as “Leno’s Law,” named for collector and former late-night host Jay Leno, who reportedly owns roughly 180 cars — cleared both legislative chambers on August 31, 2026. Newsom has 30 days to sign or veto. The bill carries bipartisan authorship: Sen. Dave Cortese (D–San José) wrote it, and Sen. Shannon Grove co-authored it.
What the Bill Actually Does
This is a narrow, phased exemption for Malaise Era collectors — not a broad rollback of California’s emissions rules.
Vehicles from model year 1975 and older already skip smog checks under existing California law. SB 1392 doesn’t touch that. What it creates is a new, collector-only exemption for cars built between 1976 and 1985 — the so-called Malaise Era, when oil shocks and new federal regulations produced underpowered engines and awkward styling, but also cult classics like the Buick Grand National and the Fox-body Ford Mustang.
The rollout is phased. Qualifying pre-1981 vehicles become exempt starting January 1, 2028, with one additional model year added each January until 2033, when the full 1976–1985 window is covered.
The catch — and there is one — is significant:
- Vehicle must be at least 35 model years old and fall within the phase-in schedule
- Owner must carry specialized collector-vehicle insurance, with proof filed to the DMV (existing historical vehicle or special-interest classifications also provide qualifying routes)
- Starting 2030, an alternative path opens: vehicles driven fewer than 1,000 miles per year can qualify through a Bureau of Automotive Repair verification process
- Permitted use is limited to shows, parades, charitable events, historical exhibitions, and maintenance runs — not daily commuting
Heritage vs. Air Quality
Supporters call it a cultural preservation measure; environmental advocates call it a precedent worth watching closely.
According to SEMA, SB 1392 is “an important touchpoint in the fight to preserve California’s rich automotive heritage.” Proponents, including the bill’s authors, argue that low-mileage collector cars represent minimal aggregate emissions compared to the broader daily vehicle fleet. Events like Monterey Car Week generate real economic activity — hotels, restaurants, auction revenue — and smoother ownership of qualifying classics could strengthen that pull.
Environmental groups remain skeptical of the “it’s just a few old cars” framing. In regions already struggling with ozone and particulate levels, any loosening of smog rules sets a precedent, however narrow. With California simultaneously positioning itself as the national EV leader, even a tightly conditioned exemption draws scrutiny from clean-air advocates who warn that regulatory carve-outs can accumulate over time.
One Signature Away
Newsom holds the pen, and both collectors and clean-air advocates are watching.
If Newsom signs, the Bureau of Automotive Repair and the DMV begin building the verification infrastructure needed to confirm collector status and mileage limits. If he vetoes, advocates have already signaled they will return with revised proposals.
Either way, the 49–4 legislative margin is difficult to ignore. Whether a 1982 car driven 600 miles a year to car shows deserves the same regulatory burden as a daily commuter — that is the question now on the governor’s desk, and the answer is coming.
