By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee passed a bill to prohibit federal government agencies from fining small businesses for first-time paperwork violations. The Harmless Error Lesser Penalty for Small Businesses Act (HELP for Small Businesses Act), S. 2757, would apply to violations such as information collection requests. However, it would still allow government agencies to issue fines for certain violations including interfering with the detection of criminal activity, IRS debt or tax collection and endangerment of public health and safety (unless the endangerment is corrected within 24 hours of notification). The bipartisan bill has been sent to the U.S. Senate floor for consideration. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee passed a bill to prohibit federal government agencies from fining small businesses for first-time paperwork violations. The Harmless Error Lesser Penalty for Small Businesses Act (HELP for Small Businesses Act), S. 2757, would apply to violations such as information collection requests. However, it would still allow government agencies to issue fines for certain violations including interfering with the detection of criminal activity, IRS debt or tax collection and endangerment of public health and safety (unless the endangerment is corrected within 24 hours of notification). The bipartisan bill has been sent to the U.S. Senate floor for consideration. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee passed a bill to prohibit federal government agencies from fining small businesses for first-time paperwork violations. The Harmless Error Lesser Penalty for Small Businesses Act (HELP for Small Businesses Act), S. 2757, would apply to violations such as information collection requests. However, it would still allow government agencies to issue fines for certain violations including interfering with the detection of criminal activity, IRS debt or tax collection and endangerment of public health and safety (unless the endangerment is corrected within 24 hours of notification). The bipartisan bill has been sent to the U.S. Senate floor for consideration. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Center for Automotive Research (CAR) hosted a one-hour webinar which focuses on the impact the coronavirus has had on the auto industry. The March 6 presentation considers immediate consequences and notes that the greatest supply-chain disruption may still lie ahead. While the webinar applies directly to challenges faced by the automakers, much of the material is also relevant to issues faced by specialty auto-parts makers, especially for product sourced from China. The webinar was hosted by Kristin Dziczek, CAR’s vice president of research; Mike Dunne, CEO at ZoZo Go; and Paul Stepanek, CEO of Complete Manufacturing and Distribution.

View the webinar.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Center for Automotive Research (CAR) hosted a one-hour webinar which focuses on the impact the coronavirus has had on the auto industry. The March 6 presentation considers immediate consequences and notes that the greatest supply-chain disruption may still lie ahead. While the webinar applies directly to challenges faced by the automakers, much of the material is also relevant to issues faced by specialty auto-parts makers, especially for product sourced from China. The webinar was hosted by Kristin Dziczek, CAR’s vice president of research; Mike Dunne, CEO at ZoZo Go; and Paul Stepanek, CEO of Complete Manufacturing and Distribution.

View the webinar.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Center for Automotive Research (CAR) hosted a one-hour webinar which focuses on the impact the coronavirus has had on the auto industry. The March 6 presentation considers immediate consequences and notes that the greatest supply-chain disruption may still lie ahead. While the webinar applies directly to challenges faced by the automakers, much of the material is also relevant to issues faced by specialty auto-parts makers, especially for product sourced from China. The webinar was hosted by Kristin Dziczek, CAR’s vice president of research; Mike Dunne, CEO at ZoZo Go; and Paul Stepanek, CEO of Complete Manufacturing and Distribution.

View the webinar.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2020 (H.R. 6074) signed into law on March 6 includes a provision allowing companies to seek a Small Business Administration emergency loan. Eligible small businesses—ranging from 1,000–1,500 employees or less for motor-vehicle parts manufacturers—must be located in a county declared by the President to be a disaster zone for the virus and be able to demonstrate economic harm.

Beyond small business loans, the law includes $8.3 billion to pursue testing and vaccine development and assist state and local governments. If deemed necessary, lawmakers may consider additional measures to help government and the general public respond to virus.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2020 (H.R. 6074) signed into law on March 6 includes a provision allowing companies to seek a Small Business Administration emergency loan. Eligible small businesses—ranging from 1,000–1,500 employees or less for motor-vehicle parts manufacturers—must be located in a county declared by the President to be a disaster zone for the virus and be able to demonstrate economic harm.

Beyond small business loans, the law includes $8.3 billion to pursue testing and vaccine development and assist state and local governments. If deemed necessary, lawmakers may consider additional measures to help government and the general public respond to virus.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2020 (H.R. 6074) signed into law on March 6 includes a provision allowing companies to seek a Small Business Administration emergency loan. Eligible small businesses—ranging from 1,000–1,500 employees or less for motor-vehicle parts manufacturers—must be located in a county declared by the President to be a disaster zone for the virus and be able to demonstrate economic harm.

Beyond small business loans, the law includes $8.3 billion to pursue testing and vaccine development and assist state and local governments. If deemed necessary, lawmakers may consider additional measures to help government and the general public respond to virus.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Minnesota legislature introduced SEMA-opposed legislation (A.B. 3256) to increase the standard biofuel blend in gasoline to 15% ethanol.

The Minnesota legislature introduced SEMA-opposed legislation (A.B. 3256) to increase the standard biofuel blend in gasoline to 15% ethanol. There is currently a 10% state-wide standard.

Minnesota currently has an exemption in place for those selling or dispensing limited quantities of nonoxygenated gas for collector vehicles. This legislation would create a similar exemption for vehicles not approved to use more than 10% biofuel, which includes all model-year ’00 and older vehicles.  

H.F. 3699/S.F. 3605 await consideration in the House Agriculture and Food Finance and Policy Division and Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy Committee respectively.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

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