Overview
- The measure, which cleared the Senate Wednesday after a bipartisan rally featuring Jay Leno, now goes to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for a pivotal vote.
- SB 1392 would phase in exemptions beginning next January for cars built before the 1981 model year and expand one model year each year to reach 1986 by 2032.
- Air-quality agencies including the Bay Area Air District oppose the bill and warned it could create a loophole that non-hobbyist owners could use to avoid smog checks.
- Supporters say the change helps collectors who lack access to specialized testing, preserves automotive culture and lowers repeated repair costs that can exceed several hundred dollars every two years.
- Sponsors are negotiating with Assembly leaders and the governor’s office as they race to win committee approval and clear the Legislature before the end-of-August deadline.