By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Several bills introduced in West Virginia in 2015 failed to be approved by both houses of the legislature prior to the adjournment of the session.

Several bills introduced in West Virginia in 2015 failed to be approved by both houses of the legislature prior to the adjournment of the session.

• A House Concurrent Resolution to designate the second Friday in July as West Virginia Collector Car Appreciation Day was approved by the full House of Delegates, but stalled in the Senate.

• Based on SEMA model legislation, a bill that would have allowed West Virginia’s vehicle hobbyists to install and use aftermarket modified exhaust systems that meet a 95-decibel limit was not given committee consideration.

• Legislation to eliminate the requirement that roof-mounted off-road light bars be covered when vehicles are operated on roads and highways was approved by the House Roads and Transportation Committee and referred to the House Judiciary Committee where it did not receive committee consideration before the session concluded. The bill also would have allowed owners of vehicles to install or use such lighting devices without obtaining approval from the Commissioner of Highways.

• Legislation to make it a criminal offense to disturb the peace with "noise from an exhaust system of any vehicle that is not equipped or constructed so as to prevent any disturbing or unreasonably loud noise" was not given committee consideration. The offense would have come with a fine of up to $1,000 per occurrence and six months in jail.

• Legislation to make the minimum appraised value of a motor vehicle $700 and the appraised value of an antique motor vehicle $5,000 for purposes of property taxes did not receive committee consideration.

• Legislation to exempt all motor vehicles from personal property taxes did not receive committee consideration.

• Legislation to provide that the appraised value of an antique motor vehicle is no more than $3,000 for purposes of property taxes did not receive committee consideration.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Several bills introduced in West Virginia in 2015 failed to be approved by both houses of the legislature prior to the adjournment of the session.

Several bills introduced in West Virginia in 2015 failed to be approved by both houses of the legislature prior to the adjournment of the session.

• A House Concurrent Resolution to designate the second Friday in July as West Virginia Collector Car Appreciation Day was approved by the full House of Delegates, but stalled in the Senate.

• Based on SEMA model legislation, a bill that would have allowed West Virginia’s vehicle hobbyists to install and use aftermarket modified exhaust systems that meet a 95-decibel limit was not given committee consideration.

• Legislation to eliminate the requirement that roof-mounted off-road light bars be covered when vehicles are operated on roads and highways was approved by the House Roads and Transportation Committee and referred to the House Judiciary Committee where it did not receive committee consideration before the session concluded. The bill also would have allowed owners of vehicles to install or use such lighting devices without obtaining approval from the Commissioner of Highways.

• Legislation to make it a criminal offense to disturb the peace with "noise from an exhaust system of any vehicle that is not equipped or constructed so as to prevent any disturbing or unreasonably loud noise" was not given committee consideration. The offense would have come with a fine of up to $1,000 per occurrence and six months in jail.

• Legislation to make the minimum appraised value of a motor vehicle $700 and the appraised value of an antique motor vehicle $5,000 for purposes of property taxes did not receive committee consideration.

• Legislation to exempt all motor vehicles from personal property taxes did not receive committee consideration.

• Legislation to provide that the appraised value of an antique motor vehicle is no more than $3,000 for purposes of property taxes did not receive committee consideration.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Hawaii Senate approved legislation to remove the requirement that gasoline offered for sale in the state contain a percentage of ethanol.

Legislation to remove the requirement that gasoline offered for sale in the state contain a percentage of ethanol was approved by the Hawaii Senate and sent to the House with a significant amendment. Under the amended bill, the effective date of the repeal would be July 1, 2050. The original date for the repeal was July 1, 2015. This amendment renders the bill almost useless to the thousands of older cars that are currently most negatively affected by ethanol blends. The bill will now be considered by two additional House committees.

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

The Hawaii Senate approved legislation to remove the requirement that gasoline offered for sale in the state contain a percentage of ethanol.

Legislation to remove the requirement that gasoline offered for sale in the state contain a percentage of ethanol was approved by the Hawaii Senate and sent to the House with a significant amendment. Under the amended bill, the effective date of the repeal would be July 1, 2050. The original date for the repeal was July 1, 2015. This amendment renders the bill almost useless to the thousands of older cars that are currently most negatively affected by ethanol blends. The bill will now be considered by two additional House committees.

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

The Hawaii Senate approved legislation to remove the requirement that gasoline offered for sale in the state contain a percentage of ethanol.

Legislation to remove the requirement that gasoline offered for sale in the state contain a percentage of ethanol was approved by the Hawaii Senate and sent to the House with a significant amendment. Under the amended bill, the effective date of the repeal would be July 1, 2050. The original date for the repeal was July 1, 2015. This amendment renders the bill almost useless to the thousands of older cars that are currently most negatively affected by ethanol blends. The bill will now be considered by two additional House committees.

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

The Hawaii Senate approved legislation to remove the requirement that gasoline offered for sale in the state contain a percentage of ethanol.

Legislation to remove the requirement that gasoline offered for sale in the state contain a percentage of ethanol was approved by the Hawaii Senate and sent to the House with a significant amendment. Under the amended bill, the effective date of the repeal would be July 1, 2050. The original date for the repeal was July 1, 2015. This amendment renders the bill almost useless to the thousands of older cars that are currently most negatively affected by ethanol blends. The bill will now be considered by two additional House committees.

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

Rob Prucka from Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) discusses the effect the school’s automotive engineering courses have on the specialty-equipment industry.

The 2015 SEMA Show is scheduled for November 3–6, Las Vegas. The SEMA Show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world, drawing the industry’s brightest minds and hottest products to the Las Vegas Convention Center. As part of the AAIW, the SEMA Show attracts more than 100,000 industry leaders from more than 100 countries for unlimited profit opportunities in the automotive, truck and SUV, powersports, and RV markets. The 2014 SEMA Show drew more than 60,000 domestic and international buyers.

Rob Prucka from Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) discusses the effect the school’s automotive engineering courses have on the specialty-equipment industry.

The 2015 SEMA Show is scheduled for November 3–6, Las Vegas. The SEMA Show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world, drawing the industry’s brightest minds and hottest products to the Las Vegas Convention Center. As part of the AAIW, the SEMA Show attracts more than 100,000 industry leaders from more than 100 countries for unlimited profit opportunities in the automotive, truck and SUV, powersports, and RV markets. The 2014 SEMA Show drew more than 60,000 domestic and international buyers.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The House of Representatives approved SEMA-supported legislation to include trucks more than 25 years old in the definition of eligible “Antique Motor Vehicles.”

SEMA-supported legislation to include trucks more than 25 years old (regardless of weight) in the definition of eligible “Antique Motor Vehicles” was approved by the House of Representatives and sent to the Senate Transportation Committee for consideration. The bill provides the option for older trucks to take advantage of the many accommodations available to antique motor vehicles.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The House of Representatives approved SEMA-supported legislation to include trucks more than 25 years old in the definition of eligible “Antique Motor Vehicles.”

SEMA-supported legislation to include trucks more than 25 years old (regardless of weight) in the definition of eligible “Antique Motor Vehicles” was approved by the House of Representatives and sent to the Senate Transportation Committee for consideration. The bill provides the option for older trucks to take advantage of the many accommodations available to antique motor vehicles.

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