As Congress continues the lengthy debate to repeal the costly 1099 reporting requirement included in last year’s health care law, SEMA is again pushing for immediate action. SEMA President and CEO Christopher Kersting sent a letter to the House Ways and Means Committee requesting immediate consideration of proposed repeal legislation. The Committee has since approved a repeal bill (HR 4) and a funding mechanism (HR 748), sending the important bill to the House floor for a vote. The Senate has already approved a repeal measure.  

Unless the law is repealed, businesses will be required to issue 1099 forms to all vendors from whom they buy more than $600 worth of goods or services in any year, beginning in 2012. The provision has garnered widespread opposition on Capitol Hill, and President Obama called for its repeal during his State of the Union address. The only obstacle to eliminating the provision has been finding an offset to recoup lost revenues. The requirement was intended to prompt vendors receiving 1099 forms to declare and pay taxes on the income. SEMA contends that it will fail to collect much under-reported income, but it will succeed in punishing small-business taxpayers that already comply with U.S. tax law.

SEMA is working independently and with four other industry coalitions to repeal the 1099 provision. For more information, please visit www.semapac.com or contact Dan Sadowski, congressional affairs manager, at dans@sema.org.

SEMA-model legislation that would create a vehicle-registration classification for street rods and custom vehicles, including kits and replicas, and provide for special license plates for these vehicles, has been introduced in the New Mexico State Legislature. 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. The bill has been referred to the New Mexico Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee for consideration.

Among other things, the measure allows for the use of non-original materials, creates a titling and registration criterion that assigns these vehicles the same model-year designation as the production vehicle they most closely resemble, only holds street rods, customs and replicas to the equipment standards specified by law during the model year listed on the title of the vehicle and provides for a one-time registration and plate fee of $100. 

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

SEMA-model legislation that would create a vehicle-registration classification for street rods and custom vehicles, including kits and replicas, and provide for special license plates for these vehicles, has been introduced in the New Mexico State Legislature. 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. The bill has been referred to the New Mexico Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee for consideration.

Among other things, the measure allows for the use of non-original materials, creates a titling and registration criterion that assigns these vehicles the same model-year designation as the production vehicle they most closely resemble, only holds street rods, customs and replicas to the equipment standards specified by law during the model year listed on the title of the vehicle and provides for a one-time registration and plate fee of $100. 

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

SEMA-model legislation that would create a vehicle-registration classification for street rods and custom vehicles and provide for special license plates for these vehicles has been reintroduced in the Texas State Legislature. 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.  

The bill has been referred to the Texas House Transportation Committee for consideration. The measure allows for the use of non-original materials and creates a titling and registration criterion that assigns these vehicles the same model-year designation as the production vehicle they most closely resemble. In addition, the bill only holds street rods, customs and replicas to the equipment standards specified by law during the model year listed on the title of the vehicle. 

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

SEMA-model legislation that would create a vehicle-registration classification for street rods and custom vehicles and provide for special license plates for these vehicles has been reintroduced in the Texas State Legislature. 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.  

The bill has been referred to the Texas House Transportation Committee for consideration. The measure allows for the use of non-original materials and creates a titling and registration criterion that assigns these vehicles the same model-year designation as the production vehicle they most closely resemble. In addition, the bill only holds street rods, customs and replicas to the equipment standards specified by law during the model year listed on the title of the vehicle. 

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

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has officially withdrawn its proposal (Chapter Trans 123) to prohibit the registration of imported vehicles manufactured after 1967 that do not meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). SEMA and the SEMA Action Network opposed the proposal. U.S. law specifically exempts imported vehicles that are 25 years old and older from these safety standards. Trans 123 offered no such reasonable exemption. The regulation would only have permitted the continued registration of subject vehicles that are already legally registered in Wisconsin, but only until they are transferred to a new owner.

Among other things, the proposal failed to recognize the fact that collector vehicles are overwhelmingly well maintained and infrequently driven, was inconsistent with federal law and would prohibit the registration of vehicles coming in from other states that have already been proven safe on U.S. roads.

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

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has officially withdrawn its proposal (Chapter Trans 123) to prohibit the registration of imported vehicles manufactured after 1967 that do not meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). SEMA and the SEMA Action Network opposed the proposal. U.S. law specifically exempts imported vehicles that are 25 years old and older from these safety standards. Trans 123 offered no such reasonable exemption. The regulation would only have permitted the continued registration of subject vehicles that are already legally registered in Wisconsin, but only until they are transferred to a new owner.

Among other things, the proposal failed to recognize the fact that collector vehicles are overwhelmingly well maintained and infrequently driven, was inconsistent with federal law and would prohibit the registration of vehicles coming in from other states that have already been proven safe on U.S. roads.

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

Spy shooter Brenda Priddy and her stealthy network recently caught a significantly updated Kia Soul testing near the Arctic Circle. This face-lifted compact was part of a large group of other Hyundai/Kia prototypes when these images were snagged.

While the big design trend a few years ago was fender vents, according to Priddy, lately many OEMs seem to be mimicking Audi's LED daytime running lights. Judging by the image above, Kia will not be an exception to the rule. However, Priddy reported that Kia may not have wanted us to see that particular feature as they were soon turned off after the first photos of the lights were taken.

Judging from the extensive camouflage, Priddy says the Soul will get significantly redesigned front and rear fascias. New headlights and taillights are almost certainly in store as well. The styling on the door panels may also be modestly freshened.

Watch for more details to emerge in the coming months.

Photo Credit: Brenda Priddy & Company

Spy shooter Brenda Priddy and her stealthy network recently caught a significantly updated Kia Soul testing near the Arctic Circle. This face-lifted compact was part of a large group of other Hyundai/Kia prototypes when these images were snagged.

While the big design trend a few years ago was fender vents, according to Priddy, lately many OEMs seem to be mimicking Audi's LED daytime running lights. Judging by the image above, Kia will not be an exception to the rule. However, Priddy reported that Kia may not have wanted us to see that particular feature as they were soon turned off after the first photos of the lights were taken.

Judging from the extensive camouflage, Priddy says the Soul will get significantly redesigned front and rear fascias. New headlights and taillights are almost certainly in store as well. The styling on the door panels may also be modestly freshened.

Watch for more details to emerge in the coming months.

Photo Credit: Brenda Priddy & Company

The Hot Rod Industry Alliance's (HRIA) Education & Training Day, to be held in conjunction with the Hotrod & Restoration Show 2011 March 17–19, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, will take place Thursday, March 17, from 8:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m.