From the SEMA Washington, D.C., office
In January, SEMA mapped its advocacy agenda for 2025, and our advocates showed up in force as we elevated to heights previously unseen by the automotive aftermarket.
Here's your 2026 SEMA/PRI advocacy wrap-up:
- More than 125,000 letters to Congress
- More than 3,000,000 voters reached
- Two pro-race track victories (North Carolina and Iowa)
- Two anti-race track bills defeated (Arkansas and Oregon)
- 330,000 jobs protected from EV mandates
- Biggest-ever increase of SEMA & PRI PAC Red Line Keyholder donors
Preserving Vehicle Choice
SEMA was at the White House when President Trump signed into law a Congressional Review Act resolution that revoked California's a 2024 waiver that allowed the state to ban the sale of new internal-combustion-engine vehicles, not only in California but in 12 other states. SEMA's successful campaign even won international accolades, with the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) presenting SEMA with its first President's Award for Excellence in Communication for our unyielding efforts to mobilize the automotive community against EV mandates.
Ensuring Your Right to Modify
In a watershed moment for American car culture, SEMA secured the introduction of the "ADAS Functionality & Integrity Act" (H.R. 6688) in the U.S. House of Representatives, marking the first time that Congress has introduced legislation to protect vehicle owners' right to modify. If passed, this bipartisan bill would ensure that aftermarket businesses have the information needed to properly calibrate advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) after vehicles are modified, which is critical to being able to safely modify new vehicles, including common modifications like installing bike racks, wrapping a vehicle, installing larger wheels and tires or installing a winch, bull bar or an aftermarket bumper.
Protecting the Right to Race
SEMA and PRI took the checkered flag in a handful of efforts to protect race tracks nationwide. SEMA halted legislation in Oregon and Arkansas that would have shut down important local tracks, and in North Carolina and Iowa, helped establish new protections that will enable race tracks to stay open and fight back against nuisance complaints. SEMA and PRI also laid the groundwork for forthcoming action to secure a more sustainable economic landscape for race tracks across the nation via the bipartisan Motorsports Fairness and Permanency Act (H.R. 2231/ S. 2462).
Maintaining Access to Public Lands
SEMA kicked off 2025 with a win for the off-road community, as President Biden signed into law the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act (EXPLORE Act), which improves the permitting process for motorized recreation events on federal lands. And the California Supreme Court ruled to uphold a SEMA-supported effort to preserve motorized access to Oceano Dunes, the only place in California where off-road enthusiasts can drive and camp on the beach for off-roading, camping and exploring.
Telling Your Story About Tariffs
SEMA has used its platform to share with the Trump Administration and lawmakers how tariffs are impacting your business. SEMA met with the Department of Commerce to discuss survey data collected from our member businesses on tariff impacts and continues to communicate how the automotive aftermarket is impacted by these policies.
Helping Small Businesses Thrive
SEMA helped secure passage of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," which provides tax certainty to American small businesses and will help the aftermarket thrive. The law includes several key provisions that benefit SEMA member companies, including reduced tax rates for individuals and pass-through businesses, the 199a deduction made permanent, Section 179 expensing cap increased, full expensing for research and development and capital investments, expanded business interest deductions and 100% immediate deductibility of certain investments in new factories and improvements.
Defense of Classic Vehicles and Collector Rights
SEMA made significant gains in the fight to modernize California's smog-check laws to help collectors of classic vehicles. This effort, dubbed Leno's Law, earned bipartisan support and represents the most significant progress we've made in California on this sort of bill in decades.
Protection of Small Businesses from Regulatory Overreach
SEMA backed a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposal to overturn the 2009 "endangerment" finding on greenhouse gases and repeal the greenhouse gas standards for light- and medium-duty motor vehicles. Our improved relationship with the EPA was never more evident than when EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin visited with SEMA leaders at the 2025 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
Want to learn more? Keep an eye out for the forthcoming 2026 Advocacy Agenda, visit sema.org/advocacy for the latest news and resources, and give a follow to SEMA Action on Instagram to be a part of our growing community of advocates.
