California Governor Enacts Three Classic Car Laws In Jay Leno’s Garage

California classic car owners, rejoice! Governor Gavin Newsom has officially signed Senate Bill 1392 (Leno’s Law), Assembly Bill 2541, and Senate Bill 1069 into law at Jay Leno’s garage.

After four tries within the past ten years, classic vehicle owners can finally take advantage of a smog check exemption for qualifying vehicles built between 1976-85. As a bonus, the California governor also signed AB 2541, which creates a specialized license plate celebrating lowrider culture. The third bill in this trio speeds up the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approval process for aftermarket parts.

“These bills protect a treasured part of California culture, giving car owners a way to preserve these pieces of history for generations to come,” says Gavin Newsom, governor of California. “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.”

Under Leno’s Law, a “qualifying motor vehicle,” must fit the following requirements to be eligible for the smog check exemption:

• At least 35 model years old
• Insured as a collector motor vehicle with proof of insurance submitted to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
• Determined by a to-be-implemented DMV process to be driven fewer than 1,000 miles per calendar year

“The Governor stuck with this legislation through the last couple of years to preserve California’s classic car heritage, and that’s rare,” says Leno.“The car community has been waiting on this for a long time, and they notice when someone follows through. Thank you, Governor.”

Under Assembly Bill 2541, a new specialized license plate celebrating the lowrider will be available for purchase for an extra fee during vehicle registration. The money raised by the fee will support “nonprofit entities with a history of supporting the lowrider community, Latino culture, and youth development.”

“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,” says Assemblymember Mark González. “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. AB 2541 helps change that narrative.”

Senate Bill 1069 seeks to “expedite the review process for manufacturers seeking state approval for the sale of aftermarket parts.” It allows for:

• Manufacturers to submit emissions testing data from qualified, independent laboratories
• The creation of a conditional approval pathway for specific aftermarket/add-on or modified vehicle parts while CARB reviews applications
• The requirement for CARB to make a determination within 60 days after acceptance of a completed application

The latter is especially one of the more important parts because there was no specific deadline for CARB to adhere to prior to this law.

Indeed, it is a fine day to be a collector car owner in California. If  I were a resident, I’d immediately take my 1973 Ford Mustang out for a celebration drive.