Government Affairs

In its daily efforts to promote and protect the auto hobby, SEMA continues to partner with lawmakers across the country through the State Automotive Leadership Caucus. Celebrating its five-year anniversary, the caucus is a bipartisan group of state lawmakers whose common thread is a love and appreciation for automobiles. Supported by SEMA's Government Affairs office in Washington, D.C., the caucus serves to raise the motor-vehicle hobby's profile in the state legislatures and in the public's eyes. [Read more] 

SEMA places a wealth of legislative/regulatory information at your fingertips to help your business succeed. All of the material can be accessed through the government affairs page on the SEMA website: www.sema.org. The legislative and regulatory materials are also posted on the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website (www.semasan.com) as a way to involve your customers, the enthusiast community.

Read on for some highlights.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has issued its new test procedure and related requirements to obtain Executive Orders (E.O.s) for emissions-related diesel performance parts. Of note is CARB’s development of a “Parts in Progress List” that identifies companies having submitted all traditional E.O. applications materials but who must now address additional requirements. By following the required steps, parts will be prevented from causing failure of the smog-check test.

The California State Assembly voted to approve legislation to increase the registration limit for exempted specially constructed vehicle (kit car) registrations from 500 to 750 vehicles per year. The bill will next move to the Senate for consideration, where it is likely to have a much tougher journey. Current law provides for emissions-system certification and a model-year designation for specially constructed vehicles.

Legislation (A.B. 1740) in the California Assembly to increase the registration limit for exempted specially constructed vehicle (kit car) registrations from 500 to 750 vehicles per year was approved by the Appropriations Committee. The bill will next move to the floor of the Assembly for a vote by all members. Under current California policy, specially constructed vehicles that do not receive one of the 500 sequence numbers are subject to a "muddied" titling, registration and smog-check process.

Legislation has been reintroduced in the New York Assembly by Assemblymember and State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus Chairman Bill Reilich to provide that historical vehicle owners only pay a one-time registration fee of $100 upon initial registration. The $100 one-time fee would replace the current annual fee of $28.75.

Ernie Silvers, chief executive officer of Egge Machine Co., will be honored in a ceremony recognizing the contributions of small business to the state of California. Egge Machine, a SEMA member, was chosen to receive the recognition by State Assemblymember Tony Mendoza. California Small Business Day "A Salute to Small Business" will take place at the Sacramento Convention Center on Tuesday, May 25.

Amidst a difficult economic environment and increased gridlock in Washington, D.C., and in state capitols across the country, the SEMA Action Network (SAN) continues to influence positive legislative action for automotive hobbyists and small businesses serving the specialty-equipment industry with recent achievements that include a pro-hobby provision in the popular "Cash for Clunkers" bill.