California lawmakers have decided not to move forward with a bill that would have exempted classic cars from the state’s smog-check requirements. The measure, known as Senate Bill 712 and authored by Republican Senator Shannon Grove of Bakersfield, was blocked by the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Friday. Former late-night talk show host Jay Leno, who owns nearly 200 classic cars, had testified in support of the bill earlier this year.
The committee did not provide an explanation for rejecting the bill during its hearing, which also saw 70 other bills killed without comment. Assemblymember Buffy Wicks of Oakland, who chairs the committee, told reporters after the hearing, “I’ll have to go back and look. I can’t remember.”
Senator Grove expressed disappointment at the decision: “Sadly, today California said ‘no’ to helping preserve these rolling pieces of history and let down classic car clubs across the state from lowriders, to hot rods and every American classic in between,” she said in a statement.
The proposed legislation would have allowed vehicles manufactured before 1981—and registered with special “historical vehicle” license plates and insured as collector vehicles—to be exempt from biennial emissions testing and smog checks at purchase.
Jay Leno described the challenges faced by owners of older cars: “With a modern car, it’s ‘plug in, get your money – boom – get out. It’s very quick to get a smog check with a modern car,’” he told lawmakers. “It’s not impossible in an older car, but it’s tricky. It takes time and often causes charges four, five, six times more than a regular car.” He added that finding shops equipped to test older vehicles is difficult.
While supporters included various California car clubs and automotive industry groups, environmental organizations such as the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and California Air Pollution Control Officers Association opposed the bill. State regulators warned that exempting these vehicles could reduce revenue for agencies overseeing smog tests and vehicle licensing fees.
According to analysis by legislative staffers cited during deliberations, implementing exemptions could cost state agencies significant amounts each year—including up to $1.2 million for new staff at the California Air Resources Board tasked with updating air quality models and pollution-reduction plans.
Wicks noted ongoing budget concerns at Friday’s hearing: “Obviously, we have an enormous amount of budget constraints still,” she said. “We have to ensure that we are serving our most vulnerable folks in our communities and making sure that we are doing everything we can to put our best foot forward for a strong social safety net.”
Before being blocked in committee, SB 712 had passed through both houses’ transportation committees with bipartisan support but faced opposition from some progressive Democrats.
The appropriations committees serve as gatekeepers for bills proposing taxpayer spending; many controversial measures do not advance past their so-called “suspense files,” where decisions are often made without public explanation or debate.
