By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Five pro-hobby bills introduced in West Virginia in 2014 failed to be approved by both houses of the legislature prior to the adjournment of the session.

Several pro-hobby bills introduced in West Virginia in 2014 failed to be approved by both houses of the legislature prior to the adjournment of the session.

• Legislation (H.B. 2443) to provide owners of antique motor vehicles with an exemption from all taxation and fees was approved by the House Roads and Transportation Committee and referred to the Judiciary Committee where it did not receive committee consideration before the session concluded.

• Based on SEMA-model legislation, a bill (H.B. 2127) 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 (H.B. 4233) to provide that a motor vehicle that has been started by use of a remote starter when the vehicle is locked is not an “unattended vehicle” and not in violation of the law was approved by the House Roads and Transportation Committee, but died in the Judiciary Committee.

• Legislation (H.B. 4265) to provide for the issuance of special plates for use on collector vehicles and allow for the transfer of the special plates temporarily between the collector motor vehicles owned by the collector was not given committee consideration.

• Legislation (S.B. 222) to exempt motor vehicles, including automobiles, motorcycles, airplanes, trucks and tractors that are older than 25 years from personal property taxes was not given committee consideration.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Five pro-hobby bills introduced in West Virginia in 2014 failed to be approved by both houses of the legislature prior to the adjournment of the session.

Several pro-hobby bills introduced in West Virginia in 2014 failed to be approved by both houses of the legislature prior to the adjournment of the session.

• Legislation (H.B. 2443) to provide owners of antique motor vehicles with an exemption from all taxation and fees was approved by the House Roads and Transportation Committee and referred to the Judiciary Committee where it did not receive committee consideration before the session concluded.

• Based on SEMA-model legislation, a bill (H.B. 2127) 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 (H.B. 4233) to provide that a motor vehicle that has been started by use of a remote starter when the vehicle is locked is not an “unattended vehicle” and not in violation of the law was approved by the House Roads and Transportation Committee, but died in the Judiciary Committee.

• Legislation (H.B. 4265) to provide for the issuance of special plates for use on collector vehicles and allow for the transfer of the special plates temporarily between the collector motor vehicles owned by the collector was not given committee consideration.

• Legislation (S.B. 222) to exempt motor vehicles, including automobiles, motorcycles, airplanes, trucks and tractors that are older than 25 years from personal property taxes was not given committee consideration.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff  

	Legislation in the Washington State House of Representatives to require the issuance of only a single license plate for vehicles that do not include a front mounting bracket died when the legislature adjourned for the year.

Legislation (H.B. 2362) in the Washington State House of Representatives to require the issuance of only a single license plate for vehicles that do not include a front mounting bracket died when the legislature adjourned for the year. The bill had received no committee consideration prior to adjournment. The bill would have required that owners issued one plate pay all applicable fees as if the vehicle had been issued two plates. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff  

	Legislation in the Washington State House of Representatives to require the issuance of only a single license plate for vehicles that do not include a front mounting bracket died when the legislature adjourned for the year.

Legislation (H.B. 2362) in the Washington State House of Representatives to require the issuance of only a single license plate for vehicles that do not include a front mounting bracket died when the legislature adjourned for the year. The bill had received no committee consideration prior to adjournment. The bill would have required that owners issued one plate pay all applicable fees as if the vehicle had been issued two plates. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff  

	Legislation in the Washington State House of Representatives to require the issuance of only a single license plate for vehicles that do not include a front mounting bracket died when the legislature adjourned for the year.

Legislation (H.B. 2362) in the Washington State House of Representatives to require the issuance of only a single license plate for vehicles that do not include a front mounting bracket died when the legislature adjourned for the year. The bill had received no committee consideration prior to adjournment. The bill would have required that owners issued one plate pay all applicable fees as if the vehicle had been issued two plates. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The New Hampshire House Science, Technology and Energy Committee approved legislation to prohibit a person from selling or offering for sale gasoline that contains corn-based ethanol as an additive at a level greater than 10%.

Legislation (H.B. 1220) to prohibit a person from selling or offering for sale gasoline that contains corn-based ethanol as an additive at a level greater than 10% was amended and approved by the New Hampshire House Science, Technology and Energy Committee. Under the amendment, the bill would take effect only if any two additional New England states adopt similar legislation limiting the amount of corn-based ethanol in gasoline to 10%.

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 New Hampshire House Science, Technology and Energy Committee approved legislation to prohibit a person from selling or offering for sale gasoline that contains corn-based ethanol as an additive at a level greater than 10%.

Legislation (H.B. 1220) to prohibit a person from selling or offering for sale gasoline that contains corn-based ethanol as an additive at a level greater than 10% was amended and approved by the New Hampshire House Science, Technology and Energy Committee. Under the amendment, the bill would take effect only if any two additional New England states adopt similar legislation limiting the amount of corn-based ethanol in gasoline to 10%.

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 New Hampshire House Science, Technology and Energy Committee approved legislation to prohibit a person from selling or offering for sale gasoline that contains corn-based ethanol as an additive at a level greater than 10%.

Legislation (H.B. 1220) to prohibit a person from selling or offering for sale gasoline that contains corn-based ethanol as an additive at a level greater than 10% was amended and approved by the New Hampshire House Science, Technology and Energy Committee. Under the amendment, the bill would take effect only if any two additional New England states adopt similar legislation limiting the amount of corn-based ethanol in gasoline to 10%.

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 New Hampshire House Science, Technology and Energy Committee approved legislation to prohibit a person from selling or offering for sale gasoline that contains corn-based ethanol as an additive at a level greater than 10%.

Legislation (H.B. 1220) to prohibit a person from selling or offering for sale gasoline that contains corn-based ethanol as an additive at a level greater than 10% was amended and approved by the New Hampshire House Science, Technology and Energy Committee. Under the amendment, the bill would take effect only if any two additional New England states adopt similar legislation limiting the amount of corn-based ethanol in gasoline to 10%.

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

By Carr Winn

SEMA News is looking to highlight top-tier talent in the automotive aftermarket industry who are under the age of 35 through its 35 Under 35 program. We need your input. If you know of a leader who is under 35—whether they are in manufacturing and design, marketing, retail, events and media or distribution—we would like to hear from you.

The following is a short profile on one of last year's 35 Under 35 winners—Brandon Bernardo. At 27, Bernardo is already the Vice President of Roll-N-Lock.

Brandon Bernardo, 27

Vice President—Roll-N-Lock Corp.

As a self-described “third-generation manufacturer” influenced by his father, Brandon Bernardo figures he’s been in the specialty-equipment field pretty much since birth. As vice president of Roll-N-Lock, he has helped to position the truck-accessory manufacturer for rapid growth through a healthy pipeline of new products and innovations. “The strong recovery in truck sales that began in 2009 has been, and continues to be, a very encouraging sign for the future of our industry,” he said. “Despite high unemployment and formidable economic headwinds, American and global consumers continue to purchase pickup trucks. The utilitarian nature of these trucks has proven to be valuable in both good times and bad, ensuring the pickup’s market position for the foreseeable future.” Bernardo sees economic globalization as a major challenge to the industry. “It seems increasingly difficult to forecast where the next global crisis will arise,” he said. “As a result, firms in our segment need to be prepared for anything and everything.” Whatever the economic trends, however, Bernardo believes that aftermarket businesses can remain competitive by running conservative operations and continuing to focus on providing value and quality to customers. In his briefcase: An iPhone, a legal pad, pencils and energy bars.