From the SEMA Washington, D.C., office
California's "Leno's Law" continues to gain momentum. SB 1392, authored by Senators Dave Cortese and Shannon Grove, has passed the California State Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support and now moves to the State Assembly, where it will be considered by policy committees in the coming weeks.
👉 Let them hear you, California! If you live in the state, tell your Assemblymember to vote YES on Leno's Law (it only takes a minute).
Leno's Law creates a narrow collector-vehicle smog-check exemption for certain older vehicles, phased in from pre-'81 models to pre-'86 models by 2032. To qualify, owners must either provide proof of collector car insurance or show, through a future DMV process, that the vehicle is driven fewer than 1,000 miles per year. The bill does not change California's existing pre-'76 exemption.
The bill is aimed at true collector vehicles used for shows, cruises, charitable events and historical exhibitions, not daily transportation. With Senate approval secured, the bill now moves to the Assembly, where continued support from enthusiasts and small businesses will be critical.
In an acknowledgment of the undeniable cultural importance of providing a pathway for modernizing the state's laws on collector vehicles, California’s iconic lowrider community is standing up for Leno's Law, submitting more than 1,700 letters in support of passing the bill.
"Lowriders and classics are built with pride, shown with purpose, and driven for the community. Leno's Law is about protecting those who keep these cars alive: the builders, the painters, the upholsterers, the chrome shops, and the clubs that put in the work year-round. SB 1392 keeps our culture on the road and gives the next generation a fair shot at preserving the rides they love," said letter organizer Joseph Mendez, CEO of The Lowrider Grind, a cultural hub for the lowrider community.
Additionally, the FIA, via its International Historical Commission, has sent a letter urging the Senate Appropriations Committee to vote in favor of Leno's Law, citing the bill’s potential for preserving California's leadership in both clean air and cultural heritage.
"California has long been recognized as a leader in environmental policy and a trendsetter in automotive culture," write Giuseppe Redaelli, president of the FIA International Historical Commission, and Willem Groenewald, FIA's secretary general for mobility, sustainability, and tourism. "SB 1392 strikes a thoughtful and balanced compromise by respecting air quality goals while protecting an essential element of California's cultural and economic fabric. It is intentionally bounded, does not create a broad rolling exemption, and creates only an optional pathway for qualifying collector vehicles. It ensures that rare and historic vehicles, some of which are displayed in world-renowned California museums and celebrated by enthusiasts around the world, can be preserved without undue regulatory burden."
"Leno's Law has always been about more than our state’s antiquated emissions tests, or the high-dollar auctioneer space that people perceive car collectors to exist within. Rather, it has always been about providing a foundation for the next generation of car enthusiasts, of acknowledging California's rich automotive heritage, and reminding us that in these divided times, our vehicles unify us and spark a joy that transcends generations and demographics," said Victor Muñoz, SEMA's senior manager for state government affairs. "As we share that story with lawmakers in Sacramento, there are no better allies to have by our side than the Fédération Internationale de de l'Automobile and Joseph Mendez and his lowrider family."
🎞️ VIDEO: Watch Chris Jacobs and Carmen Vera's message on Leno's Law below:
For more information on how to support Leno's Law and to stay updated on its progress, contact Victor Muñoz, SEMA's senior manager for state government affairs, at victorm@sema.org. Sign up for SEMA Action updates at semahq.org.
