For decades, classic car lovers in California have been left in limbo as their beloved vehicles are forced off the road because they can't meet the state's modern smog-emission standards.
However, Californians can finally rejoice because on Sept. 16, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1392 into law, also known as Jay Leno's Law, which will create a new smog exemption for a selection of collector cars built between 1976 and 1985 that are insured as collector vehicles or driven less than 1,000 miles per year.
Although car enthusiasts have long pushed for such an exemption for older vehicles, momentum for the bill didn't build until Leno, the legendary comedian and automotive collector, backed the effort a few years ago and ultimately helped get
it across the finish line in 2026.
To mark the occasion, Newsom joined Leno inside his Burbank garage and signed the law into effect, surrounded by a collection of vintage vehicles and memorabilia. The law is expected to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2028.
"The Governor stuck with this legislation through the last couple of years to preserve California's classic car heritage, and that's rare," Leno said in a statement."The car community has been waiting on this for a long time, and they notice when someone follows through."
Newsom didn't forget about California's Latino communities and lowrider car enthusiasts. In addition to signing Jay Leno's law, Newsom also signed Assembly Bill 2541, authored by Mark González (D-Los Angeles), which will create a new specialty license plate honoring lowrider heritage.
"Lowriding is more than a car; it is cultura, it is art, it's family, and it is a powerful expression of Chicano and Latino pride," González said in a statement to USA TODAY. "For generations, our communities have used lowriders to tell our stories, celebrate our heritage, and create something beautiful out of the streets we call home. Yet too often, lowriders were treated as a problem to be policed instead of a culture to be celebrated."
For decades, car enthusiasts and the state government have been at odds over the "correct" way to celebrate the state's car culture. For many, it felt like the state treated them antagonistically by imposing fines and restrictions on those who wanted to drive a classic car around town, or even outright banning local cruising clubs and targeting the lowrider community.
Over the last few years, the state has attempted to rectify this combative relationship by approving bills like Assembly 434, which legalized lowrider cruising and removed outdated state restrictions on lowered vehicles.
These two laws are the newest addition to the state's effort to celebrate its car culture and support "an important part of California's culture."
"These bills protect a treasured part of California culture, giving car owners a way to preserve these pieces of history for generations to come," Newsom said in a statement. "The Golden State is made for classic-car lovers, and our lowriders are timeless masterpieces that connect art, activism, and cultural identity throughout our state."
Noe Padilla is a Northern California Reporter for USA Today. Contact him at npadilla@usatodayco.com, follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social. Sign up for the TODAY Californian newsletter or follow us on Facebook at TODAY Californian.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Newsom signs Jay Leno's law, and approves new lowrider license plate
