By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Senate Transportation Committee has approved legislation to exempt antique motor vehicles from the requirement that they have exhaust systems of a type installed as standard factory equipment.

Senate legislation (S.B. 702) to exempt antique motor vehicles from the requirement that they have exhaust systems of a type installed as standard factory equipment, or comparable to that designed for use on the particular vehicle as standard factory equipment, was approved with an amendment by the Senate Transportation Committee. The measure now moves to the Senate floor for a vote by all members.

Under the amendment, the bill would apply only to antique vehicles manufactured prior to 1950 containing engines comparable to that designed as standard factory equipment for use on that vehicle.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

	Minnesota has introduced legislation to mandate payment of a “recoupment” surcharge of up to $95.

Legislation to mandate payment of a “recoupment” surcharge of up to $95 has been introduced in Minnesota. The surcharge would be calculated to levy the highest tax on owners of the most fuel-efficient vehicles. Separate legislation requires the Department of Transportation to take steps to implement a vehicle mileage user fee to tax drivers on actual miles driven.  

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

	Minnesota has introduced legislation to mandate payment of a “recoupment” surcharge of up to $95.

Legislation to mandate payment of a “recoupment” surcharge of up to $95 has been introduced in Minnesota. The surcharge would be calculated to levy the highest tax on owners of the most fuel-efficient vehicles. Separate legislation requires the Department of Transportation to take steps to implement a vehicle mileage user fee to tax drivers on actual miles driven.  

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

	Minnesota has introduced legislation to mandate payment of a “recoupment” surcharge of up to $95.

Legislation to mandate payment of a “recoupment” surcharge of up to $95 has been introduced in Minnesota. The surcharge would be calculated to levy the highest tax on owners of the most fuel-efficient vehicles. Separate legislation requires the Department of Transportation to take steps to implement a vehicle mileage user fee to tax drivers on actual miles driven.  

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

	Minnesota has introduced legislation to mandate payment of a “recoupment” surcharge of up to $95.

Legislation to mandate payment of a “recoupment” surcharge of up to $95 has been introduced in Minnesota. The surcharge would be calculated to levy the highest tax on owners of the most fuel-efficient vehicles. Separate legislation requires the Department of Transportation to take steps to implement a vehicle mileage user fee to tax drivers on actual miles driven.  

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff  

	The Maryland House of Delegates has reintroduced legislation to require the issuance of only a single license plate for all motor vehicles.

Legislation has been reintroduced in the Maryland House of Delegates to require the issuance of only a single license plate for all motor vehicles. A second bill provides that historic vehicles and street rods may display only the rear plate if the front plate is stored inside the vehicle. Both bills will be considered by the House Environment and Transportation Committee, Thursday, February 5, 2015. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff  

	The Maryland House of Delegates has reintroduced legislation to require the issuance of only a single license plate for all motor vehicles.

Legislation has been reintroduced in the Maryland House of Delegates to require the issuance of only a single license plate for all motor vehicles. A second bill provides that historic vehicles and street rods may display only the rear plate if the front plate is stored inside the vehicle. Both bills will be considered by the House Environment and Transportation Committee, Thursday, February 5, 2015. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff  

	The Maryland House of Delegates has reintroduced legislation to require the issuance of only a single license plate for all motor vehicles.

Legislation has been reintroduced in the Maryland House of Delegates to require the issuance of only a single license plate for all motor vehicles. A second bill provides that historic vehicles and street rods may display only the rear plate if the front plate is stored inside the vehicle. Both bills will be considered by the House Environment and Transportation Committee, Thursday, February 5, 2015. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff  

	The Maryland House of Delegates has reintroduced legislation to require the issuance of only a single license plate for all motor vehicles.

Legislation has been reintroduced in the Maryland House of Delegates to require the issuance of only a single license plate for all motor vehicles. A second bill provides that historic vehicles and street rods may display only the rear plate if the front plate is stored inside the vehicle. Both bills will be considered by the House Environment and Transportation Committee, Thursday, February 5, 2015. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. House Judiciary Committee passed legislation to expand the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) and provide small businesses with a larger say in how federal government agencies draft regulations. Under the bill, federal agencies would now be required to consider a reasonably foreseeable indirect economic impact on a small business. Agencies would also be required to offer regulatory alternatives to minimize any significant economic impact. The Chief Counsel for Advocacy at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) would be required to issue rules on how federal agencies are to comply with the RFA. Rules issued by federal agencies would be subject to judicial review to ensure compliance with RFA requirements. The House is expected to consider the bill in February.

The RFA has played an important role in reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens since it was enacted in 1980. The SBA estimates that it reduced small-business compliance costs by $4.8 billion in 2014. 

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.