By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved HR 1960, the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bill includes a provision to end a five-year debate on how to expand the U.S. Marine Corps base at Twentynine Palms, California. Authored by Rep. Paul Cook (R-CA), the provision allows the Marines to have access to the adjoining Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Recreation Area for up to 60 days per year for training exercises, but the area would be otherwise preserved for recreational use. The NDAA will now be considered by the U.S. Senate.

The provision protects OHV activities by establishing the "Johnson Valley National Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area" under continued management by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). It provides for public participation in determining the dates for military activities that will be the least disruptive for OHV activities. The land is used year-round by OHV enthusiasts and is home to numerous motorized events that draw thousands of competitors and spectators to the area every year, including the famous King of the Hammers.

SEMA is urging senators to approve the Johnson Valley provision when the Senate considers the NDAA bill later this summer. Final passage of the NDAA is not expected until this fall. 

For more information, please contact Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org or Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

Pro-hobby legislation to allow a single license plate for attachment at the rear of the vehicle and a separate bill to increase the emissions inspection period from an annual requirement to every five years died when the legislature adjourned for the year. SEMA-opposed legislation to impose on state motorists a vehicle miles traveled tax of up to 1.25 cents per mile and a bill to add an additional fee of $50 to vehicle registration and renewal fees also died. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

Pro-hobby legislation to allow a single license plate for attachment at the rear of the vehicle and a separate bill to increase the emissions inspection period from an annual requirement to every five years died when the legislature adjourned for the year. SEMA-opposed legislation to impose on state motorists a vehicle miles traveled tax of up to 1.25 cents per mile and a bill to add an additional fee of $50 to vehicle registration and renewal fees also died. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

SEMA-opposed legislation that raised the assessed value of antique, rare or special-interest motor vehicles, along with placing a cap on the number of miles those vehicles can be driven, died when the legislature adjourned for the year. Under the bill, the valuation of these vehicles would have increased to a maximum value of $1,000. The current valuation limit in the state is $500. The bill included a 2,000-mile cap on the distance these vehicles could be driven in a two-year period. Further, the measure would have required vehicles seeking registration as antique, rare or special-interest motor vehicles or as modified antique motor vehicles to be at least 30 years old. Currently, vehicles 20 years old or older are eligible for this status and special license plates. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

SEMA-opposed legislation that raised the assessed value of antique, rare or special-interest motor vehicles, along with placing a cap on the number of miles those vehicles can be driven, died when the legislature adjourned for the year. Under the bill, the valuation of these vehicles would have increased to a maximum value of $1,000. The current valuation limit in the state is $500. The bill included a 2,000-mile cap on the distance these vehicles could be driven in a two-year period. Further, the measure would have required vehicles seeking registration as antique, rare or special-interest motor vehicles or as modified antique motor vehicles to be at least 30 years old. Currently, vehicles 20 years old or older are eligible for this status and special license plates. 

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

The deadline to submit nomination forms for SEMA's prestigious industry awards—Person of the Year, Rep Agency of the Year and WD of the Year—is Monday, July 8.

By SEMA Editors

Nominations are now being accepted for the SEMA Person of the Year, SEMA Rep Agency of the Year and the SEMA WD of the Year awards. Please take a moment to review the SEMA Awards website, which lists the criteria established for each award, as well as a listing of previous honorees for each award. To make a nomination now, visit the SEMA Awards website and click on the red nominate bar next to the corresponding award.

Person of the Year: Created in 1969, SEMA's Person of the Year Award recognizes individuals for their distinguished service to the trade association and the specialty-equipment industry.

Rep Agency of the Year: The SEMA Rep Agency of the Year Award honors a manufacturer's rep agency for its contribution to the industry for the past 12 months (corresponding with the SEMA fiscal year, July 1–June 30). Criteria for the award includes product-line knowledge, communication of critical information between supplier and the client network, updated catalogs, databases and price sheets, and maintains continuous training and education programs.

WD of the Year: The award was established to honor a warehouse distributor for outstanding contribution to the automotive specialty-equipment industry during the past 12 months corresponding with SEMA's fiscal year.

All three of the prestigious SEMA industry awards are presented during the Industry Awards Banquet in front of thousands of specialty-equipment leaders and professionals at the SEMA Show.

The deadline to submit SEMA Award nomination forms is Monday, July 8. Questions? Contact Arlene Wood at 909-978-6689 or e-mail ArleneW@SEMA.org.

The deadline to submit nomination forms for SEMA's prestigious industry awards—Person of the Year, Rep Agency of the Year and WD of the Year—is Monday, July 8.

By SEMA Editors

Nominations are now being accepted for the SEMA Person of the Year, SEMA Rep Agency of the Year and the SEMA WD of the Year awards. Please take a moment to review the SEMA Awards website, which lists the criteria established for each award, as well as a listing of previous honorees for each award. To make a nomination now, visit the SEMA Awards website and click on the red nominate bar next to the corresponding award.

Person of the Year: Created in 1969, SEMA's Person of the Year Award recognizes individuals for their distinguished service to the trade association and the specialty-equipment industry.

Rep Agency of the Year: The SEMA Rep Agency of the Year Award honors a manufacturer's rep agency for its contribution to the industry for the past 12 months (corresponding with the SEMA fiscal year, July 1–June 30). Criteria for the award includes product-line knowledge, communication of critical information between supplier and the client network, updated catalogs, databases and price sheets, and maintains continuous training and education programs.

WD of the Year: The award was established to honor a warehouse distributor for outstanding contribution to the automotive specialty-equipment industry during the past 12 months corresponding with SEMA's fiscal year.

All three of the prestigious SEMA industry awards are presented during the Industry Awards Banquet in front of thousands of specialty-equipment leaders and professionals at the SEMA Show.

The deadline to submit SEMA Award nomination forms is Monday, July 8. Questions? Contact Arlene Wood at 909-978-6689 or e-mail ArleneW@SEMA.org.

The deadline to submit nomination forms for SEMA's prestigious industry awards—Person of the Year, Rep Agency of the Year and WD of the Year—is Monday, July 8.

By SEMA Editors

Nominations are now being accepted for the SEMA Person of the Year, SEMA Rep Agency of the Year and the SEMA WD of the Year awards. Please take a moment to review the SEMA Awards website, which lists the criteria established for each award, as well as a listing of previous honorees for each award. To make a nomination now, visit the SEMA Awards website and click on the red nominate bar next to the corresponding award.

Person of the Year: Created in 1969, SEMA's Person of the Year Award recognizes individuals for their distinguished service to the trade association and the specialty-equipment industry.

Rep Agency of the Year: The SEMA Rep Agency of the Year Award honors a manufacturer's rep agency for its contribution to the industry for the past 12 months (corresponding with the SEMA fiscal year, July 1–June 30). Criteria for the award includes product-line knowledge, communication of critical information between supplier and the client network, updated catalogs, databases and price sheets, and maintains continuous training and education programs.

WD of the Year: The award was established to honor a warehouse distributor for outstanding contribution to the automotive specialty-equipment industry during the past 12 months corresponding with SEMA's fiscal year.

All three of the prestigious SEMA industry awards are presented during the Industry Awards Banquet in front of thousands of specialty-equipment leaders and professionals at the SEMA Show.

The deadline to submit SEMA Award nomination forms is Monday, July 8. Questions? Contact Arlene Wood at 909-978-6689 or e-mail ArleneW@SEMA.org.