- The California classic car emissions exemption bill, colloquially known as "Leno's Law," is once again being considered by legislators.
- The bill previously stalled in California's Assembly Appropriations Committee, but a new provision could help the bill pass into law.
- An initial hearing is scheduled for mid-April, with the bill's co-sponsors asking backers to submit letters of support by April 8.
The classic car community has another chance at passing the emissions exemption bill, popularly lauded as "Leno's Law." Introduced to the California legislature on February 20, 2026, California Senate Bill 1392 brings back Leno's Law after the original version, California Senate Bill 712, failed to pass into law last year.
The new bill is co-sponsored by Senators Shannon Grove and Dave Cortese. As before, Bill 1392 aims to carve out emissions testing exemptions for classic vehicles on a rolling basis, starting with 1981-model-year vehicles. While the last bill required cars to be registered as a collector motor vehicle to get the exemption, the new bill adds another provision. In an attempt to sway legislators, the new bill requires that, in addition to collector status, classic cars would not be used as the owner's primary mode of transportation.
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"SB 1392, Leno’s Law, is a collaborative effort between Senator Cortese, Senator Grove, Jay Leno, a growing list of legislators in strong support, and SEMA. It has been refined from last year's SB 712 to maximize benefits to car enthusiasts while also ensuring the bill's ultimate success. Because of this, we are confident that the bill will pass," a spokesperson for Sen. Cortese said in a statement to our sister publication, Road & Track.
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Facts Only
Bill: California Senate Bill 1392
Co-sponsors: Senators Shannon Grove and Dave Cortese
Previous bill: California Senate Bill 712 (failed last year)
Location: California
Date: February 20, 2026 (introduced)
Key parties: Jay Leno, SEMA, Sen. Cortese, Sen. Grove
Executive Summary
Full Take
The reemergence of "Leno's Law" provides an opportunity to examine the dynamics between classic car enthusiasts and legislators in California. The bill seeks to balance the interests of car enthusiasts with environmental concerns by exempting classic cars from emissions testing while ensuring they are not used as primary modes of transportation.
This strategy can be seen as an attempt to address criticism faced by the previous bill, which required cars to be registered as collector motor vehicles for exemption. By adding this additional provision, the new bill aims to present a more balanced approach and increase its chances of passing into law.
It's worth noting that the bill is supported by influential figures such as Jay Leno and SEMA (Society of Automotive Engineers), which may lend it increased credibility among legislators. However, it remains to be seen whether this will be enough to overcome potential opposition from environmental groups or those concerned about air quality in California.
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