Leno’s law is making its way through the California legislature.
The former end-of-evening talk-show host and passionate about Auto Jay Leno supports a California legislative proposal To allow an exception for conventional cars to verify the Biennale transfer and title transfer SMOG, and it obtains significant bipartisan support.
Bill 712 of the SenateIntroduced by the republican senator Shannon Grove, would free up “collectors engine vehicles” which are “at least 35 years” from air quality control. Leno noted that he applies to a small number of cars, because many vintage cars are very little driven on the road anyway.
“Listen, I am for clean air like everyone else, but it’s a question, it seems to be such a small percentage,” Leno Business told the proposal nicknamed “Leno’s Law”.
“It’s 1%, and these are conventional cars, cars that are less than a few thousand miles per year. So that seems to be a reasonable compromise,” he continued.
Jay Leno attended the 20th anniversary gala of Hudson River Park at the Pier 62 by Hudson River Park on October 11, 2018 in New York. (Images Roy Rochlin / Getty / Getty Images)
The bill was issued within the Senatorial Transport Committee 12-2 last week, with Caroline Menjivar and Catherine Blakespear democratic senses voting “no”, because they have argued that this could allow people who have old cars who are not necessarily collectors to enjoy the lack of SMOG, According to Kcra. California’s legislature has a democratic supermajority.
Leno said that Classic car culture is an essential element in the history of the state.
“Everyone in California, we have seen the film industry go and this, you know, the birth of the hot category is really there in California. In addition, when you realize all the major manufacturers-Nissan, Honda, Toyota, General Motors, Ford, they all have studios in California for style, because it is where the new ideas come from,” he said.
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Jay Leno, on the left, and Mike Spagnola, CEO of Sema, testifying to the California Senate Transportation Committee on April 8, 2025. (California State Senate)
Grove noted that the bill has no impact on other laws, as drivers will always have to be insured and California Highway Patrol Can always give a ticket for exhaust pipes.
“These cars are a piece in the history of rolling. There are still vehicle codes that must be respected. You must meet the code of section 259, which describes what a classic car is: not used for daily use, for exhibitions and parades, and things like that,” said Grove.
“Many of these vehicles are really like snowmobiles or other mountain bikes or other leisure vehicles,” said Leno.
“I drive my electric car during the week, then on weekends, I take one of my old cars, I drive 15 miles for a car show, I sit there all day and I will talk to the other cars and put me back lies, then I come home. And that’s about what it is,” he added.
The Senator of the Republican State of California, Shannon Grove and Jay Leno, sailing around California State Capitol in a Pontiac Trans Am in 1976 on April 8, 2025. (California State Senate)
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Leno noted that it is difficult to find automobile parts that comply with the Golden State Smog test requirements, as other states do not have similar regulations.
“You just don’t want to make criminals from people. You know, you have a father who had a car he had from high school in the garage, and you can drive it to Nevada or Washington or you can go to Mexico. You just can’t drive to California,” he said.
During a press conference on last week’s bill, the actor noted that the owners of conventional cars are stuck in driving further to pass an SMOG test parts of California It will work with their older vehicle.
“So this will help to alleviate these pressures on our owners of conventional cars and to make them hand these pieces of history on the road for parades and special events and bring pride to our state in this industry,” said the senator.
