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California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

California SB 712

Smog check: motor vehicles: exemption.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Passed House
  5. To Governor
  6. Became law

Sponsors

Cosponsors (23)

Summary

Official abstract published by the California legislature· summary

Existing law establishes a motor vehicle inspection and maintenance (smog check) program that is administered by the Department of Consumer Affairs. The smog check program requires inspection of motor vehicles upon initial registration, biennially upon renewal of registration, upon transfer of ownership, and in certain other circumstances. Existing law exempts specified vehicles from being inspected biennially upon renewal of registration, including, among others, all motor vehicles manufactured prior to the 1976 model year. Existing law also exempts from specified portions of the smog test, both biennially and at transfer, a collector motor vehicle that is insured as a collector motor vehicle, is at least 35 model years old, complies with the exhaust emissions standards for that motor vehicle's class and model year as prescribed by the department, and that passes a functional inspection of the fuel cap and a visual inspection for liquid fuel leaks. This bill would, commencing on January 1, 2027, additionally fully exempt from the smog check requirements, both biennially and at transfer, a motor vehicle that was manufactured prior to the 1981 model year, has been assigned a special identification plate indicating that it is a historical vehicle, and is insured as a collector motor vehicle, as specified. The bill, beginning January 1, 2028, would expand this exemption by one model year, every year, for 5 years. The bill would be known, and may be cited as, Leno's Law.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 4:19 PM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Jul 14, 2025
House		Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]passSet your home in California to see
Jun 4, 2025
Senate		3rd Reading SB712 Grove et al.passSet your home in California to see
May 23, 2025
Senate		Do pass as amendedpassSet your home in California to see
Apr 28, 2025
Senate		Placed on suspense filepassSet your home in California to see
Apr 8, 2025
Senate		Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]passSet your home in California to see

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