California senators Shannon Grove and Dave Cortese introduced Senate Bill 1392 on February 20, 2026, reviving "Leno's Law" to exempt classic cars up to 1986 from biennial smog tests if passed, effective January 1, 2027 through 2032, and backed by Jay Leno, former "Tonight Show" host.
SB 1392 largely mirrors the earlier SB 712 but adds a requirement that qualifying vehicles not be used as an owner's primary mode of transportation, allowing use for shows, parades, charitable events and historical exhibitions for display, maintenance and preservation.
The bill was referred to the Senate Transportation Committee on March 4, 2026, with an initial hearing set for April 14 and a request for letters of support by April 8; SEMA senior director Christian Robinson said changes to the bill's wording are likely and that California often sets national emissions precedents.
Jay Leno wrote in Hagerty about increasing difficulty, long waits and higher specialty-test fees for older cars, citing those costs and delays as part of the rationale for the proposed exemption.
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