California lawmakers have introduced a couple of significant automobile-related bills this month that could affect drivers, families, and classic car collectors alike. One bill has already advanced past its first legislative hurdle, while another is still in the early discussion stage.
The first bill is Assembly Bill No. 435.
This bill is focused on child passenger safety and was introduced by Assemblymember Lori Wilson. The bill proposes stricter guidelines for the use of booster seats in vehicles, updating current regulations to reflect more modern safety research. Under existing law, children are required to use a booster seat until the age of 8. However, if AB 435 is passed, all children under 10 years old would be mandated to ride in a booster seat. Furthermore, the bill introduces a height-based requirement that could potentially keep children in booster seats up to the age of 13 if they do not meet the minimum height threshold.
Notably, this legislation would also impact teenagers.
Many parents begin allowing their children to ride in the front passenger seat during the early teen years. However, AB 435 would impose height requirements that might prevent some teenagers, up to the age of 16, from sitting in the front seat unless they meet specific size criteria. This change aims to ensure that the seat belt fits properly across a child’s chest and hips, which is crucial for safety in the event of a crash.
Assemblymember Wilson developed this bill in collaboration with child car seat experts, including Benjamin Arias and his wife, who own a car seat company. After conducting extensive testing and research, they concluded that age should not be the sole determining factor for booster seat usage. Instead, proper seat belt fit based on a child’s height is the safest and most effective standard. Supporters of the bill argue that these changes are a necessary evolution in child passenger safety laws and will better protect young passengers on the road.
Meanwhile, Senate Bill 712 is the other bill in discussion.
This bill, also known as “Leno’s Law,” has garnered strong backing from comedian and well-known car enthusiast Jay Leno. The proposed legislation would provide exemptions from California’s strict smog check requirements for classic vehicles that are at least 35 years old. Currently, even older vehicles must undergo smog testing unless they meet specific criteria. SB 712 seeks to expand those exemptions, including in cases where ownership of the vehicle changes.
Leno and other supporters argue that regulations should differ for classic cars.
They say that these vintage cars are driven infrequently and are typically part of private collections, not means of daily transportation. As such, they believe it is unreasonable to hold them to the same environmental standards as everyday vehicles. Leno has even made an appearance at the state Capitol to advocate for the bill in person.
As these two bills continue through the legislative process, they have sparked conversations across the state about safety, environmental responsibility, and the role of government in regulating personal vehicles.
