According to the CARANDDRIVER

California’s long-running effort to change emissions-testing rules for older collector vehicles has moved significantly closer to becoming law.

The proposal, commonly referred to as “Leno’s Law,” has received strong bipartisan support in the California Legislature. Senate Bill 1392 passed the California Senate by a 49–4 vote, leaving the governor’s approval as the remaining major step in the legislative process.

What Is Leno’s Law?

The legislation is designed to provide certain classic vehicles with an exemption from California’s standard emissions-testing requirements.

The current proposal, Senate Bill 1392, was introduced in February 2026. It represents a revised attempt to establish a classic-car exemption after an earlier proposal, Senate Bill 712, failed to become law.

The idea has attracted considerable attention from classic-car owners and enthusiasts who argue that vehicles used primarily for collecting and recreation should be treated differently from everyday transportation.

A New Approach to Classic-Car Exemptions

One of the major differences in the latest version is how qualifying vehicles would be identified.

The proposed legislation would introduce a rolling exemption beginning with 1981 model-year vehicles. However, simply owning an older vehicle would not automatically qualify it for the exemption.

Under the proposal, a vehicle would need to meet collector-vehicle requirements. In addition, the owner would have to demonstrate that the classic car is not their primary form of transportation.

That additional condition is intended to distinguish genuine collector vehicles from older cars that are still being used as regular daily transportation.

Why the Bill Matters to California Car Enthusiasts

California has some of the country's strictest vehicle-emissions regulations, making emissions compliance an important issue for owners of older automobiles.

For collectors, an exemption could reduce the regulatory burden associated with maintaining and registering qualifying classic vehicles.

Supporters of the legislation have also emphasized that the proposal has been revised from the previous attempt in an effort to create a version that can gain broader legislative support. The bill is backed by Senators Shannon Grove and Dave Cortese, along with automotive enthusiast Jay Leno and the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA).

What Happens Next?

With the Senate vote completed, the bill now moves to California Governor Gavin Newsom for consideration. If signed, SB 1392 would become law and establish the proposed framework for the classic-vehicle emissions exemption.

For California’s classic-car community, the Senate vote represents an important milestone. The proposal has already survived a difficult legislative process, including an earlier setback in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

The final decision now rests with the governor.

The Bottom Line

SB 1392 could represent a significant change for California owners of qualifying collector vehicles. Rather than creating a blanket exemption for every older car, the proposal focuses on vehicles that meet collector requirements and are not used as the owner’s primary transportation.

If the governor approves the measure, California’s rules for classic-car emissions testing could change substantially for eligible vehicles.

By Jack Fitzgerald