Newsom Signs 3 California Car Bills, Phasing Smog Exemption to 1985 Models

Q: Where exactly will the new revenue generated by California's lowrider specialty license plates go within local communities?

The money from California’s new lowrider specialty license plates is intended to be reinvested into local communities through grants for youth programs, community arts, and cultural organizations tied to lowrider heritage. Under the bill creating the plate, net revenue goes into the state’s Specialized License Plate Fund and is then distributed by the California Arts Council. Reporting on the measure says those grants are meant to support lowrider arts and cultural preservation, youth engagement, and public educational exhibitions. The available details indicate the funding is aimed especially at organizations working in the communities that built and sustained lowrider culture. Related coverage says the Arts Council is expected to prioritize nonprofit groups serving Chicano and Latino communities, while supporters have described the plate as a way to “reinvest the proceeds back into those same communities.” So, while the money does not go to a single city or neighborhood account, it is designed to flow back locally through nonprofit and arts-based grant programs that fund community-centered cultural and youth initiatives.

3 articles · Updated · Office of Governor Gavin Newsom · Sep 16

SB 1392 creates a phased smog-check exemption for collector cars from model years 1976-1985, limited to vehicles with collector insurance or fewer than 1,000 miles a year.
The exemption starts Jan. 1, 2028 for 1976-1980 cars and expands annually until 1985 models qualify in 2033, targeting vehicles the state says make up only a tiny share of emissions.
AB 2541 establishes a specialized lowrider license plate program to honor California's lowrider culture and help fund youth engagement, arts and cultural programs tied to that heritage.
Newsom signed the measures at Jay Leno's Garage in Burbank and also approved SB 1069, which speeds state review for aftermarket parts manufacturers.