By Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation (A.B. 210) has been introduced in the California Assembly to exempt motor vehicles prior to the '83 model year from the state’s emissions inspection requirement.

Current law requires the biennial testing of all '76 and newer model-year vehicles. AB 210 awaits consideration by the Assembly Transportation Committee.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network website.  

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

By Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to create a commission that would recommend ways to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Route 66, which was commissioned in 1926 as the first all-paved U.S. highway. The “Route 66 Centennial Commission Act” (H.R. 66) creates a 19-person commission including governors of states through which the highway passed, from Illinois to California. The commission will have five years to recommend ways to celebrate the anniversary such as through writings, films and documentaries, education programs, artistic works and commemorative memorabilia.

The bipartisan H.R. 66 is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) and passed by a margin of 393 to 22. The bill now awaits consideration in the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. "Route 66 is a symbol of American independence and prosperity. I am proud to have America’s most iconic road run through the middle of my district and it’s important we celebrate its history," said Rep. Davis. "This bill will create a commission to honor the 100th anniversary of Route 66 in 2026 and will create a plan to ensure the historic road is preserved for future generations.”

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

By Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to create a commission that would recommend ways to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Route 66, which was commissioned in 1926 as the first all-paved U.S. highway. The “Route 66 Centennial Commission Act” (H.R. 66) creates a 19-person commission including governors of states through which the highway passed, from Illinois to California. The commission will have five years to recommend ways to celebrate the anniversary such as through writings, films and documentaries, education programs, artistic works and commemorative memorabilia.

The bipartisan H.R. 66 is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) and passed by a margin of 393 to 22. The bill now awaits consideration in the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. "Route 66 is a symbol of American independence and prosperity. I am proud to have America’s most iconic road run through the middle of my district and it’s important we celebrate its history," said Rep. Davis. "This bill will create a commission to honor the 100th anniversary of Route 66 in 2026 and will create a plan to ensure the historic road is preserved for future generations.”

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

By Washington, D.C., Staff

West Virginia’s Knobley Mountain Auto Club proudly recognized the day at its event in Keyser, shown displaying the 2018 CCAD Congressional Resolution.

At the request of SEMA and the SEMA Action Network (SAN), a resolution (H. Res. 108) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to recognize July 12, 2019, as Collector Car Appreciation Day (CCAD). H. Res. 108 is sponsored by Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus House Co-Chairs Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL) and Rep. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA). The date marks the 10th commemoration in what has become an annual event to celebrate and raise awareness of the vital role automotive restoration and collection plays in American society.

Intended to celebrate the classics of the past and the future, the U.S. Congress has helped launch CCAD by introducing resolutions each year at SEMA’s request.  The previous resolutions were sponsored by co-chairs of the SEMA-supported Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus.  These Congressional leaders have been strong advocates for the automotive hobby in Washington, D.C., and recognize the integral role collector cars have played in fostering our nation’s appreciation for the automobile’s unique historical place in our history.

A list of officially scheduled events to commemorate America’s time-tested love affair with the automobile is posted in the link below.  Individuals, car clubs and business owners interested in publicizing events may submit the details of their July celebration at no cost using this link.

States, local governments and Canadian provinces have adopted similar commemorative declarations, making it an international recognition of the collector-car hobby and the millions of individuals who support it. Several jurisdictions are pursuing similar initiatives.

Download the official logo and flyer from the homepage and help promote this special day. As always, the SAN welcomes any level of participation and encourages everyone to spread the word about our hobby’s “holiday.”

For questions, contact SAN Director Colby Martin at 909-978-6721 or san@sema.org.

By Washington, D.C., Staff

West Virginia’s Knobley Mountain Auto Club proudly recognized the day at its event in Keyser, shown displaying the 2018 CCAD Congressional Resolution.

At the request of SEMA and the SEMA Action Network (SAN), a resolution (H. Res. 108) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to recognize July 12, 2019, as Collector Car Appreciation Day (CCAD). H. Res. 108 is sponsored by Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus House Co-Chairs Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL) and Rep. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA). The date marks the 10th commemoration in what has become an annual event to celebrate and raise awareness of the vital role automotive restoration and collection plays in American society.

Intended to celebrate the classics of the past and the future, the U.S. Congress has helped launch CCAD by introducing resolutions each year at SEMA’s request.  The previous resolutions were sponsored by co-chairs of the SEMA-supported Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus.  These Congressional leaders have been strong advocates for the automotive hobby in Washington, D.C., and recognize the integral role collector cars have played in fostering our nation’s appreciation for the automobile’s unique historical place in our history.

A list of officially scheduled events to commemorate America’s time-tested love affair with the automobile is posted in the link below.  Individuals, car clubs and business owners interested in publicizing events may submit the details of their July celebration at no cost using this link.

States, local governments and Canadian provinces have adopted similar commemorative declarations, making it an international recognition of the collector-car hobby and the millions of individuals who support it. Several jurisdictions are pursuing similar initiatives.

Download the official logo and flyer from the homepage and help promote this special day. As always, the SAN welcomes any level of participation and encourages everyone to spread the word about our hobby’s “holiday.”

For questions, contact SAN Director Colby Martin at 909-978-6721 or san@sema.org.

By Washington, D.C., Staff

SEMA-supported legislation (H.R. 1024) has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would expand the current warning label required on gas pumps dispensing E15 (gasoline that’s 15% ethanol). The new label would include the words “WARNING” and “Check your owner’s manual”, be 5 x 7 inches or larger, and include pictograms depicting a boat, lawnmower, chainsaw, motorcycle and snowmobile. The current label is about 3½ x 3 inches and does not include the words “warning,” “owner’s manual,” or pictograms.

Ethanol, especially in higher concentrations such as E15, can cause metal corrosion and dissolve certain plastics and rubbers in automobiles that were not constructed with ethanol-resistant materials. In 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made it illegal to used E15 fuel in motor vehicles made before 2001, along with motorcycles, boats and gasoline-powered equipment.

The “Consumer Protection and Fuel Transparency Act of 2019” sponsored by Representatives Austin Scott (R-GA) and Lois Frankel (D-FL) addresses the concern that many consumers are unaware of the potential harm E15 poses for millions of gasoline-powered vehicles and equipment.  The EPA would have 180 days to update its current warning label.

“As we are presented with more choices at the gas pump, it is imperative that American consumers know exactly what kind of fuel they are putting into their engines,” said Rep. Scott. “Gas pumps today are riddled with confusing labels and fail to adequately warn consumers of the dangers of fueling small engine equipment with E15. For this reason, with the support of Congresswoman Frankel, I introduced the Consumer Protection and Fuel Transparency Act of 2019 to ensure that E15 is more clearly labelled and consumers are made better aware of the damages misfuelling can cause to their vehicles, power equipment, and boats. By making fuel pump labels easier to decipher and coordinating public education programs at multiple levels, this legislation can save consumers time and energy at the pumps and avoid headaches and costs down the road.”

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network website.

For details, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By Washington, D.C., Staff

SEMA-supported legislation (H.R. 1024) has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would expand the current warning label required on gas pumps dispensing E15 (gasoline that’s 15% ethanol). The new label would include the words “WARNING” and “Check your owner’s manual”, be 5 x 7 inches or larger, and include pictograms depicting a boat, lawnmower, chainsaw, motorcycle and snowmobile. The current label is about 3½ x 3 inches and does not include the words “warning,” “owner’s manual,” or pictograms.

Ethanol, especially in higher concentrations such as E15, can cause metal corrosion and dissolve certain plastics and rubbers in automobiles that were not constructed with ethanol-resistant materials. In 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made it illegal to used E15 fuel in motor vehicles made before 2001, along with motorcycles, boats and gasoline-powered equipment.

The “Consumer Protection and Fuel Transparency Act of 2019” sponsored by Representatives Austin Scott (R-GA) and Lois Frankel (D-FL) addresses the concern that many consumers are unaware of the potential harm E15 poses for millions of gasoline-powered vehicles and equipment.  The EPA would have 180 days to update its current warning label.

“As we are presented with more choices at the gas pump, it is imperative that American consumers know exactly what kind of fuel they are putting into their engines,” said Rep. Scott. “Gas pumps today are riddled with confusing labels and fail to adequately warn consumers of the dangers of fueling small engine equipment with E15. For this reason, with the support of Congresswoman Frankel, I introduced the Consumer Protection and Fuel Transparency Act of 2019 to ensure that E15 is more clearly labelled and consumers are made better aware of the damages misfuelling can cause to their vehicles, power equipment, and boats. By making fuel pump labels easier to decipher and coordinating public education programs at multiple levels, this legislation can save consumers time and energy at the pumps and avoid headaches and costs down the road.”

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network website.

For details, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By Washington, D.C., Staff

The Internal Revenue Service issued a regulation to provide guidance for pass-through business owners when taking a 20% deduction under Section 199a of the 2017 tax overhaul law.

The tax law change will benefit small business owners who pay taxes on their personal tax returns—partnerships, limited liability companies, and S corporations. Any taxpayers who earn less than $157,500, or $315,000 for a married couple, can deduct 20% of the income they receive via pass-through businesses from their overall taxable income. Taxpayers earning above those amounts must meet certain tests to take the full deduction, such as the amount of W-2 employee wages paid in the business.

For more information, read IRS Final Rule for 20% Section 199a Tax Deduction.

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

By Washington, D.C., Staff

The Internal Revenue Service issued a regulation to provide guidance for pass-through business owners when taking a 20% deduction under Section 199a of the 2017 tax overhaul law.

The tax law change will benefit small business owners who pay taxes on their personal tax returns—partnerships, limited liability companies, and S corporations. Any taxpayers who earn less than $157,500, or $315,000 for a married couple, can deduct 20% of the income they receive via pass-through businesses from their overall taxable income. Taxpayers earning above those amounts must meet certain tests to take the full deduction, such as the amount of W-2 employee wages paid in the business.

For more information, read IRS Final Rule for 20% Section 199a Tax Deduction.

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

By Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) has until February 17 to issue a report on whether imported automobiles and auto parts pose a threat to U.S. national security. Last May, President Trump directed the DOC to pursue the investigation which applies to all types of cars and parts, including new cars, classic cars, OEM parts and specialty auto parts. Global tariffs of as much as 20% to 25% could be imposed, in part to gain leverage as the United States pursues trade negotiations with the European Union, Japan, China and other countries.  Once the DOC has issued a report, the president has 90 days to decide what actions to take, if any.

Last year eight major trade associations formed the “Driving American Jobs” Coalition to oppose the potential tariffs. The group includes SEMA and represents the broad scope of the auto industry, from automakers and dealers to parts manufacturers, distributors, retailers and service providers. The Coalition has sought to convince the Trump Administration not to impose tariffs.

President Trump is using Section 232 of U.S. trade law, which delegates authority from Congress to the executive branch to put tariffs or quotas on imports that “threaten to impair” U.S. national security. Section 232 has generally been applied on a limited basis, targeting a few product lines. However, the current administration has used Section 232 more broadly—imposing sweeping 25% tariffs on foreign steel, 10% tariffs on imported aluminum, and threatening tariffs on auto imports. Legislation has been introduced that would require the U.S. Congress to approve or disapprove of imposing tariffs. SEMA supports the legislation to provide checks and balances when considering issues impacting the national interest.

If the DOC report concludes that imported automobiles or auto parts pose a threat, President Trump would have several options. They range from imposing global tariffs on all finished vehicles and parts to selectively imposing tariffs on products from certain countries. 

Domestic industries usually support tariffs but in this instance the auto industry is generally united in opposition. The reason may be that most companies now rely on a global supply chain and rules-based international trading system. While SEMA supports the Trump Administration’s efforts to ensure fair trade, tariffs threaten to disrupt the marketplace and impose an unanticipated tax on U.S. businesses.

SEMA has recommended other trade law mechanisms be employed first, such as filing product dumping and foreign subsidy action and working more closely with our international trading partners to contest unfair trade practices. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.