By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The economic climate for America’s small businesses continues to improve despite lingering challenges from the 2008–2009 recession, according to a new report issued by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy. The “Small Business Economy” report provides detailed information on expanding production and profits, and declining unemployment and bankruptcies. Small businesses represent half of the private-sector output since the peak of the recession in 2009. Manufacturing sales, which dropped between 2005 and 2009, were up 11.2% in 2009–2010 and 11.7% in 2010–2011. 

Read a copy of the report.  

Questions? Contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation containing a SEMA amendment to totally exempt from the license tax vehicles and parts cars stored on private property for the purpose of restoration or repair was approved by the House of Delegates. The license tax is applied to vehicles that do not display current license plates. Under the bill, vehicles stored within a structure would remain exempt from the tax. The bill will next be considered by the Virginia Senate Transportation Committee.  

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

Legislation containing a SEMA amendment to totally exempt from the license tax vehicles and parts cars stored on private property for the purpose of restoration or repair was approved by the House of Delegates. The license tax is applied to vehicles that do not display current license plates. Under the bill, vehicles stored within a structure would remain exempt from the tax. The bill will next be considered by the Virginia Senate Transportation Committee.  

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

Legislation containing a SEMA amendment to totally exempt from the license tax vehicles and parts cars stored on private property for the purpose of restoration or repair was approved by the House of Delegates. The license tax is applied to vehicles that do not display current license plates. Under the bill, vehicles stored within a structure would remain exempt from the tax. The bill will next be considered by the Virginia Senate Transportation Committee.  

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

Legislation to allow the owner of a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer or pole trailer manufactured in the year 1948, 1949 or 1950 to display a single original Montana license plate that is affixed to the rear of the vehicle was approved by the Montana House of Representatives. Under the bill, the original Montana license plate must be legible and bear the year that matches the year in which the vehicle was manufactured. The bill will next be considered by the Senate. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation to allow the owner of a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer or pole trailer manufactured in the year 1948, 1949 or 1950 to display a single original Montana license plate that is affixed to the rear of the vehicle was approved by the Montana House of Representatives. Under the bill, the original Montana license plate must be legible and bear the year that matches the year in which the vehicle was manufactured. The bill will next be considered by the Senate. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation has been introduced to eliminate a provision in the Connecticut statutes that allows antiques, rare or special-interest motor vehicles to be assessed at a value of no more than $500. Under the bill, valuation of these vehicles will be done in the same manner as all other motor vehicles in the state. Vehicles in Connecticut are taxed by the municipality in which they are registered and rates vary by municipality.  

The municipality calculates the owner’s tax liability for a particular vehicle by multiplying the "mill rate" by 70% of the vehicle’s true and actual value. Tax assessors are looking to target motor vehicles for additional revenue at a time when it appears that property taxes are increasing for many Connecticut citizens on other taxable property. The bill ignores the fact that existing antique, rare or special-interest motor vehicles constitute a small portion of the vehicle fleet and are well-maintained, infrequently operated hobby cars and deserving of continued property tax benefits. 

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

Legislation has been introduced to eliminate a provision in the Connecticut statutes that allows antiques, rare or special-interest motor vehicles to be assessed at a value of no more than $500. Under the bill, valuation of these vehicles will be done in the same manner as all other motor vehicles in the state. Vehicles in Connecticut are taxed by the municipality in which they are registered and rates vary by municipality.  

The municipality calculates the owner’s tax liability for a particular vehicle by multiplying the "mill rate" by 70% of the vehicle’s true and actual value. Tax assessors are looking to target motor vehicles for additional revenue at a time when it appears that property taxes are increasing for many Connecticut citizens on other taxable property. The bill ignores the fact that existing antique, rare or special-interest motor vehicles constitute a small portion of the vehicle fleet and are well-maintained, infrequently operated hobby cars and deserving of continued property tax benefits. 

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

Legislation has been introduced to eliminate a provision in the Connecticut statutes that allows antiques, rare or special-interest motor vehicles to be assessed at a value of no more than $500. Under the bill, valuation of these vehicles will be done in the same manner as all other motor vehicles in the state. Vehicles in Connecticut are taxed by the municipality in which they are registered and rates vary by municipality.  

The municipality calculates the owner’s tax liability for a particular vehicle by multiplying the "mill rate" by 70% of the vehicle’s true and actual value. Tax assessors are looking to target motor vehicles for additional revenue at a time when it appears that property taxes are increasing for many Connecticut citizens on other taxable property. The bill ignores the fact that existing antique, rare or special-interest motor vehicles constitute a small portion of the vehicle fleet and are well-maintained, infrequently operated hobby cars and deserving of continued property tax benefits. 

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 

As a result of the opposition expressed by the Montana enthusiast community, legislation to limit the number of inoperable motor vehicles allowed on private property under “community decay” laws was withdrawn from consideration by the House Local Government Committee. The bill had been scheduled for a hearing Tuesday, February 19, 2013. 

Under the bill, four or more “junk vehicles” on private property would have constituted “community decay.” The measure provided no reasonable concessions for legitimate automotive hobbyists to work on more than three inoperable collector vehicles on private property. SEMA believes that clear legal distinctions must be drawn between an owner using private property as a dumping ground and a vehicle enthusiast working to maintain, restore or construct a vehicle. 

SEMA supports legislation that permits the outdoor storage of motor vehicles if they are located away from public view, or screened by a fence, trees, shrubbery, opaque covering or other appropriate means. This bill provided no such accommodation to vehicle restorers and allowed municipalities alone to determine if these vehicles created “community decay.” 

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