Legislation in the West Virginia Legislature to provide owners of antique motor vehicles with a fair and equitable personal property tax assessment was approved by the House Roads and Transportation Committee. The bill seeks to address recent unfair valuation practices that have negatively impacted many West Virginia hobbyists. The measure provides that for the purposes of the property tax, the assessed value of an antique vehicle cannot exceed $200. The bill now moves to the House Finance Committee for consideration. West Virginia law defines an "antique motor vehicle" to mean any motor vehicle that is more than 25 years old and owned solely as a collector's item. 

For more information, click here. For details, please contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

Legislation in the West Virginia Legislature to provide owners of antique motor vehicles with a fair and equitable personal property tax assessment was approved by the House Roads and Transportation Committee. The bill seeks to address recent unfair valuation practices that have negatively impacted many West Virginia hobbyists. The measure provides that for the purposes of the property tax, the assessed value of an antique vehicle cannot exceed $200. The bill now moves to the House Finance Committee for consideration. West Virginia law defines an "antique motor vehicle" to mean any motor vehicle that is more than 25 years old and owned solely as a collector's item. 

For more information, click here. For details, please contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

SEMA-model legislation to create a vehicle titling and registration classification for street rods and custom vehicles was approved unanimously by the Washington State Senate Transportation Committee. The bill defines a street rod as an altered vehicle manufactured before 1949 and a custom as an altered vehicle at least 25 years old and manufactured after 1948. Under the bill, kit cars and replica vehicles will be assigned a certificate of title bearing the same model-year designation as the production vehicle they most closely resemble. The bill now moves to the Senate floor for a vote by the full body. 

For more information, click here. For details, please contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

SEMA-model legislation to create a vehicle titling and registration classification for street rods and custom vehicles was approved unanimously by the Washington State Senate Transportation Committee. The bill defines a street rod as an altered vehicle manufactured before 1949 and a custom as an altered vehicle at least 25 years old and manufactured after 1948. Under the bill, kit cars and replica vehicles will be assigned a certificate of title bearing the same model-year designation as the production vehicle they most closely resemble. The bill now moves to the Senate floor for a vote by the full body. 

For more information, click here. For details, please contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

The Senate Natural Resources and Transportation Committee passed SEMA-supported legislation to exempt all vehicles 25 years old and older from the state’s mandatory biennial emissions inspection and maintenance program. The bill will now be considered by the Senate Rules Committee before making its way to the floor for a vote by the full body. Existing law in Arizona only exempts pre-’67 model-year vehicles and those vehicles designated as “collectible.”

For more information, click here. For details, please contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

The Senate Natural Resources and Transportation Committee passed SEMA-supported legislation to exempt all vehicles 25 years old and older from the state’s mandatory biennial emissions inspection and maintenance program. The bill will now be considered by the Senate Rules Committee before making its way to the floor for a vote by the full body. Existing law in Arizona only exempts pre-’67 model-year vehicles and those vehicles designated as “collectible.”

For more information, click here. For details, please contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

SEMA-opposed legislation to ban the installation, ownership or use of any car with aftermarket speakers more than 6.5 inches in height or depth, any five-speaker aftermarket system, any aftermarket speaker more than 100 watts and any aftermarket speaker installed external to the passenger compartment or in an open hatchback will not be considered in the Hawaii legislature this year.

The measure was discriminatory toward aftermarket products, as it did not seek to limit systems installed by the original vehicle manufacturer or dealer. If enacted, the bill would have denied hobbyists the opportunity to purchase and install a range of aftermarket alternatives to original-equipment stereos. Following a hearing on the bill in the House Transportation Committee, the measure was deferred.

For details, please contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

SEMA-opposed legislation to ban the installation, ownership or use of any car with aftermarket speakers more than 6.5 inches in height or depth, any five-speaker aftermarket system, any aftermarket speaker more than 100 watts and any aftermarket speaker installed external to the passenger compartment or in an open hatchback will not be considered in the Hawaii legislature this year.

The measure was discriminatory toward aftermarket products, as it did not seek to limit systems installed by the original vehicle manufacturer or dealer. If enacted, the bill would have denied hobbyists the opportunity to purchase and install a range of aftermarket alternatives to original-equipment stereos. Following a hearing on the bill in the House Transportation Committee, the measure was deferred.

For details, please contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

SEMA-supported legislation to allow vehicles 30 years old and older to be classified as “vintage vehicles” was approved by the Utah House of Representatives. Currently, Utah reserves the “vintage vehicle” class only to vehicles 40 years old and older. Under the bill, “vintage vehicles” 30–40 years old would be charged a $45 annual registration fee. When the vehicle reaches 40 years old, the registrant would pay a one-time $40 fee. Vintage vehicles are exempted from annual emissions and safety inspections. The bill now moves to the Senate Transportation Committee for consideration. Utah exempts vehicles manufactured prior to 1968 from emissions inspections. Vehicles manufactured after that date must be registered as “vintage vehicles” or “customs” to qualify for this exemption.

For more information, click here. For details, please contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

SEMA-supported legislation to allow vehicles 30 years old and older to be classified as “vintage vehicles” was approved by the Utah House of Representatives. Currently, Utah reserves the “vintage vehicle” class only to vehicles 40 years old and older. Under the bill, “vintage vehicles” 30–40 years old would be charged a $45 annual registration fee. When the vehicle reaches 40 years old, the registrant would pay a one-time $40 fee. Vintage vehicles are exempted from annual emissions and safety inspections. The bill now moves to the Senate Transportation Committee for consideration. Utah exempts vehicles manufactured prior to 1968 from emissions inspections. Vehicles manufactured after that date must be registered as “vintage vehicles” or “customs” to qualify for this exemption.

For more information, click here. For details, please contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.