California Committee Strips Away ‘Leno’s Law’ for Classic Car Exemptions, Leaving Enthusiasts in Disappointment

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A legislative committee in California has voted against a proposal that aimed to exempt classic car owners from stringent smog-check regulations, despite celebrity support from comedian Jay Leno. The Assembly Appropriations Committee on Friday chose not to advance Senate Bill 712, authored by Republican Senator Shannon Grove of Bakersfield, which had garnered significant attention earlier this year. Leno, a well-known classic car enthusiast with a collection nearing 200 vehicles, had advocated for the bill in Sacramento, arguing that the requirements for testing older cars significantly hinder ownership and restoration efforts. This measure … Read more

Leno’s Law: New Bill Proposes Smog Check Exemptions for California’s Classic Cars

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Owners of vintage vehicles in California could soon see relief from stringent smog-check regulations that make owning newer classic cars more challenging. Senate Bill 712, currently under consideration, aims to amend the state’s existing vehicle emissions laws to exempt classic cars that are 35 years old or older. The legislation, spearheaded by State Sen. Shannon Grove of Bakersfield, seeks to reinstate a rolling exemption, which has not been updated since 2005. As it stands now, only vehicles from the 1975 model year or earlier are exempt from smog checks. The proposed change … Read more