By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

In his State of the Union Address, President Obama urged Congress to enact comprehensive tax reform legislation designed to simplify the tax code, close loopholes and lower business tax rates. He specifically called for lowering manufacturers’ tax rates to 25%, making permanent the SEMA-supported research and development tax credit, implementing a tax on earnings from overseas sources and increasing incentives for companies to hire new workers.

Congress is now taking the first steps to consider such reforms. Leaders of the House Ways and Means Committee, the primary tax-writing committee in Congress, announced the formation of 11 separate “tax reform working groups” within the Committee’s membership. The bipartisan groups will each focus on a different issue, including manufacturing, energy, income and tax distribution and small business/pass-throughs. They will then obtain input from stakeholders, academics, practitioners, the general public and other members of Congress. When work is completed, the Joint Committee on Taxation will deliver a report to the Ways and Means Committee by April 15, 2013.

While these initial steps are promising for a larger comprehensive tax reform legislative package, the process is only beginning and includes many unknowns. SEMA will remain engaged in these efforts toward a simpler tax code and provide updates as reform efforts continue. 

For more information, please contact Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

Legislation to require the issuance of a single motor-vehicle license plate for attachment at the rear of the vehicle was introduced in the Texas House Of Representatives. The bill, favored by state hobbyists, would apply to passenger cars and light trucks. Among other things, the bill would save money, conserve resources and bring Texas in line with other states that have moved to a single plate requirement. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

Legislation to require the issuance of a single motor-vehicle license plate for attachment at the rear of the vehicle was introduced in the Texas House Of Representatives. The bill, favored by state hobbyists, would apply to passenger cars and light trucks. Among other things, the bill would save money, conserve resources and bring Texas in line with other states that have moved to a single plate requirement. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

Legislation to require the issuance of a single motor-vehicle license plate for attachment at the rear of the vehicle was introduced in the Texas House Of Representatives. The bill, favored by state hobbyists, would apply to passenger cars and light trucks. Among other things, the bill would save money, conserve resources and bring Texas in line with other states that have moved to a single plate requirement. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

Legislation has been introduced in Hawaii to reduce annual registration fees and state vehicle weight tax for antique motor vehicles. Under the SEMA-supported bill, the registration fee would be reduced from $45 to $25 each year, and the weight tax would be reduced from 1.75 cents per pound to 1 cent per pound. 

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 in Hawaii to reduce annual registration fees and state vehicle weight tax for antique motor vehicles. Under the SEMA-supported bill, the registration fee would be reduced from $45 to $25 each year, and the weight tax would be reduced from 1.75 cents per pound to 1 cent per pound. 

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 in Hawaii to reduce annual registration fees and state vehicle weight tax for antique motor vehicles. Under the SEMA-supported bill, the registration fee would be reduced from $45 to $25 each year, and the weight tax would be reduced from 1.75 cents per pound to 1 cent per pound. 

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 

SEMA-supported legislation has been introduced in West Virginia to exempt motor vehicles, including automobiles, motorcycles, airplanes, trucks and tractors that are older than 25 years from personal property taxes. Under the bill, these automobiles and motorcycles would need to display valid current antique licenses and could not be used for daily transportation. 

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 

SEMA-supported legislation has been introduced in West Virginia to exempt motor vehicles, including automobiles, motorcycles, airplanes, trucks and tractors that are older than 25 years from personal property taxes. Under the bill, these automobiles and motorcycles would need to display valid current antique licenses and could not be used for daily transportation. 

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 

SEMA-supported legislation has been introduced in West Virginia to exempt motor vehicles, including automobiles, motorcycles, airplanes, trucks and tractors that are older than 25 years from personal property taxes. Under the bill, these automobiles and motorcycles would need to display valid current antique licenses and could not be used for daily transportation. 

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