California has some of the strictest vehicle emissions laws in the United States. For decades, owners of older vehicles have accepted routine smog inspections as part of keeping their cars legally registered. But that could soon change for thousands of classic car enthusiasts.
A bill known as SB 1392, or "Jay Leno's Law," is making its way through the California Legislature and has become one of the most talked-about automotive bills of 2026. If it becomes law, it would create a new smog check exemption for qualifying collector vehicles while maintaining California's broader commitment to clean air.
For collectors, restorers, and anyone who appreciates automotive history, this could be the biggest change to California's smog program in years.
Here's what SB 1392 would do, who it could affect, and why it's generating so much attention.
SB 1392 is a California Senate bill introduced by Senators Dave Cortese and Shannon Grove.
The proposal would exempt certain collector motor vehicles from California's Smog Check Program, provided they meet specific eligibility requirements established in the legislation. The bill is officially titled "Jay Leno's Law," reflecting the television host and well-known automotive enthusiast's support for the measure.
Unlike previous proposals that sought broad exemptions based solely on vehicle age, SB 1392 takes a more limited approach by focusing on vehicles that are preserved as collectibles rather than used for everyday transportation.
Jay Leno is one of America's best-known car collectors, with a collection that includes hundreds of classic, antique, and specialty vehicles.
For years, Leno has argued that collector vehicles represent only a tiny fraction of the cars on California roads and are typically:
Driven occasionally
Carefully maintained
Stored indoors
Preserved as part of automotive history
Supporters believe requiring these vehicles to undergo recurring smog inspections places unnecessary costs and burdens on owners while having little measurable impact on statewide emissions.
If SB 1392 becomes law, qualifying collector vehicles would gradually become exempt from California's biennial smog inspection requirements.
Rather than exempting every older vehicle overnight, the bill proposes a phased approach.
According to the latest bill analysis, the exemption would initially apply to eligible collector vehicles manufactured before model year 1981. Beginning in 2028, the exemption would expand by one additional model year each year until it reaches 1986 model-year vehicles by 2032.
This gradual rollout was designed to balance the interests of collectors with California's long-standing air quality goals.
One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding SB 1392 is that every vehicle over a certain age would automatically become exempt.
That is not how the current proposal is written.
To qualify, a vehicle must meet the bill's definition of a collector motor vehicle, which includes specific registration and usage requirements. Recent versions of the bill also emphasize that qualifying vehicles are not intended to serve as the owner's primary mode of transportation.
In other words, your 1980 pickup that you drive to work every day would likely be treated differently than a restored 1968 muscle car that only comes out for weekend events.
Supporters argue that collector vehicles make up only a very small percentage of registered vehicles in California.
Many are driven only:
To car shows
During parades
On weekend cruises
For occasional maintenance drives
Because annual mileage is typically low, proponents argue these vehicles contribute relatively little to California's overall emissions compared to modern daily drivers.
Supporters also point to California's rich automotive culture.
From hot rods and lowriders to vintage sports cars and classic trucks, the state has one of the largest collector vehicle communities in the world.
Organizations such as the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) have backed the bill, saying it protects automotive heritage without significantly affecting air quality.
Not everyone agrees with the exemption.
Environmental advocates argue that older vehicles generally produce more emissions than modern cars, regardless of how often they are driven.
They also express concern that expanding exemptions could weaken California's long-standing emissions program, which has helped improve air quality over several decades.
Opponents believe even limited exemptions deserve careful review to ensure they do not create unintended environmental consequences.
Some California drivers may remember a similar bill that failed in 2025.
That proposal, often referred to as the original "Leno's Law," did not make it through the legislative process after concerns were raised about costs and implementation.
SB 1392 is different.
Lawmakers revised the bill by:
Narrowing the exemption
Adding stricter collector vehicle requirements
Creating a phased implementation schedule
Addressing administrative concerns raised during the previous effort
Supporters believe these changes significantly improve the bill's chances of becoming law.
As of late July 2026, SB 1392 has already cleared several major legislative hurdles.
The bill:
Passed the California Senate
Advanced through the Assembly Transportation Committee with bipartisan support
Is currently awaiting further consideration in the Assembly as it continues through the legislative process.
That means it is not law yet.
Several additional steps remain before the proposal could reach the Governor's desk.
Many drivers have asked whether SB 1392 would significantly reduce business for California smog stations.
Realistically, probably not.
Even if enacted, the bill would apply to a relatively small group of qualifying collector vehicles.
The overwhelming majority of passenger vehicles in California would still require smog inspections under existing rules.
Most stations would likely see little change in day-to-day business because modern gasoline vehicles would continue following the current testing schedule.
For now, nothing changes.
If your vehicle currently requires a smog inspection, you must continue following California's existing laws until any new legislation officially takes effect.
Skipping a required smog inspection based on proposed legislation could delay your registration or create other compliance issues.
The best approach is to:
Continue following current DMV requirements
Monitor legislative updates
Confirm eligibility if SB 1392 eventually becomes law
California has long influenced automotive policy across the country.
Changes to emissions regulations often attract national attention because other states sometimes adopt similar approaches or watch California's policies closely.
Whether SB 1392 ultimately becomes law or not, the discussion highlights a broader question facing lawmakers nationwide:
How do you preserve automotive history while continuing to improve air quality?
Finding that balance will likely remain part of the conversation for years to come.
SB 1392 has become one of the most closely watched automotive bills in California because it attempts to modernize the state's smog laws without dismantling its emissions program.
If approved, it would provide a carefully limited exemption for qualifying collector vehicles while leaving California's broader Smog Check Program largely intact.
For classic car owners, it represents the possibility of fewer inspections and lower long-term ownership costs.
For everyone else, it is a reminder that California's vehicle regulations continue to evolve as lawmakers try to balance environmental goals with the preservation of automotive history.