California is one step away from passing Jay Leno's classic car emissions exemption law and if it does dozens of other states are expected to follow immediately
Published on Mar 30, 2026 at 2:41 PM (UTC-4)
by Molly Davidson
Last updated on Mar 30, 2026 at 2:41 PM (UTC-4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
California is getting closer to passing a classic car emissions law tied to Jay Leno, but this didn’t just come out of nowhere.
It’s the latest chapter in a fight that’s been dragging on for years between car enthusiasts and emissions rules.
Because while modern cars are getting cleaner, older ones are getting harder and more expensive to keep road legal.
And that’s exactly where Leno stepped in.
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The classic car emissions rule California changed
This all traces back to a rule California used to have.
For years, the state ran a rolling exemption, so once a car hit 30 years old, it no longer needed regular smog checks.
Then in 2004, that changed.
California scrapped the rolling system and replaced it with a fixed cutoff – only cars from 1975 or earlier were exempt.
Everything newer got pulled into modern testing, even if it was rarely driven.
Over time, that created a strange situation where cars from the late ‘70s and ‘80s were treated like daily drivers.
Owners ended up facing rising costs, long wait times, and fewer places that could even test older engines.
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Jay Leno has been a steady hand behind the push
That’s where Jay Leno comes in.
He’s not just backing a bill – he owns one of the biggest classic car collections in the US and deals with these rules himself.
The bill itself is called Senate Bill 1392, also known as ‘Leno’s Law’.
He’s been publicly backing versions of this legislation for at least the past couple of years, including a 2025 attempt that ultimately stalled.
That earlier version made it further than any attempt in over 20 years, before getting held up over costs.
So this 2026 version is a tighter rewrite of that same push.
It keeps the idea – exemptions for older cars – but limits it to a clearly defined group.
The car has to be registered as a collector vehicle, not used daily, and mainly driven for shows or events.
This California classic car emissions law could spread beyond the state
Because of that rewrite, the bill is in a much stronger position than last year.
And if it passes, the impact likely won’t stop at California.
The state sets the tone for emissions rules, and others often follow.
So if California lands on a version that works, it becomes an easy template for other states.
It’s not guaranteed, but that’s how a lot of US car policy spreads.
And why this one change could reach far beyond California.
With roles at TEXT Journal, Bowen Street Press, Onya Magazine, and Swine Magazine on her CV, Molly joined Supercar Blondie in June 2025 as a Junior Content Writer. Having experience across copyediting, proofreading, reference checking, and production, she brings accuracy, clarity, and audience focus to her stories spanning automotive, tech, and lifestyle news.
