By Kyle Fischer
As motorsports parts manufacturers, your business depends on one thing: the freedom to innovate, modify, and race. Without these rights, the demand for your products would be at risk, whether it’s performance intakes, suspension kits, or racing electronics. That’s why the Right to Modify and the Right to Race are more than legal fights; they’re literally business survival. The SEMA Motorsports Products & Media Council (MPMC) is committed to making sure you’re informed and ready to act, and we have some great news to share.
The Right to Modify: Safeguarding Innovation
In December 2025, SEMA introduced the ADAS Functionality and Integrity Act, a pivotal step forward. By 2029, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) will be mandatory on new vehicles. This proposed law ensures that once a vehicle is modified – whether you’re adding a lift kit or recalibrating performance – the standards for ADAS recalibration are clear. And, in early 2026, SEMA secured a congressional hearing to advance the Right to Modify further. This means customers can trust that their performance upgrades won’t shut down essential safety systems … and you can keep innovating, manufacturing, and selling.
The Right to Race: Protecting the Track
At the end of 2025, SEMA celebrated the passage of track-preservation laws in multiple states and blocked two anti-racing bills that would have stifled grassroots events. Now, in 2026, Right to Race bills are advancing in Indiana, Kansas, Ohio, and Oklahoma – all states with deep racing roots. Without local tracks, where will your customers compete? Where’s the showcase for your latest performance parts? Protecting the track protects the marketplace for your innovations.
Why We Must Act – And How
The 2026 SEMA & PRI Washington Rally takes place May 5-6, 2026, and it’s our moment to secure these rights. If you can be there, you’ll be side-by-side with the SEMA Public and Government Affairs team, ensuring lawmakers understand how critical these issues are. It’s a chance to sit in on policy briefings, meet your lawmakers directly, and explain how these issues affect your business. You won’t just be watching; you’ll be an active part of shaping the future of motorsports and protecting your marketplace. But if you can’t attend, SEMA Action gives you tools to stay engaged. Join their grassroots network, support SEMA & PRI PAC political action committee, or connect with local representatives to advocate from home.
MPMC keeps you informed, but this is the moment for action. We have momentum on our side. Now is the time to push forward faster than ever. If we act together, we can accelerate the progress of these critical protections. Whether on Capitol Hill or through SEMA Action, your effort now ensures that motorsports – and your business – will not only endure but grow stronger. Together, let’s defend our right to build, race and thrive.
Register for the 2026 SEMA & PRI Washington Rally here: www.sema.org/washington-rally.