By Della Domingo

	The SEMA Show typically attracts more than 130,000 individuals from more than 125 countries, making the annual show the world's premier automotive trade event where buyers and sellers meet to do business.

More than 2,000 companies will participate in the 2014 SEMA Show Priority Booth Space Drawing, a process that takes about three weeks for exhibiting companies to select and confirm the location of their booth at the annual trade show, taking place November 4–7, in Las Vegas.

The 2,000-plus companies that are scheduled to select their spaces represents an increase of almost 10% over the Priority Booth Space Drawing in 2013.

“We’re pleased to see so many exhibitors signing up early and taking part in the Priority Booth Draw,” said Peter MacGillivray, SEMA VP of Events and Communications. “Selecting space is a key milestone for exhibitors; By committing early and taking part in the booth draw, our team is able to collaborate with exhibitors to help them be successful.”

E-mails with assigned dates and times (with a one-hour time range), along with important information about the process and a link to the 2014 floor plan, will be sent to the “exhibitor contact” that was listed on the space application. During the assigned date and time, the exhibitor will select a booth location over the phone while viewing an online floor plan that is updated every 30 minutes at www.SEMAShow.com.

The Priority Booth Space Drawing begins May 5. During the process, exhibitors will confirm their locations within more than 1 million square feet of the Las Vegas Convention Center. They will be preparing their booths to meet with more than 130,000 industry professionals, including 60,000 buyers from all over the world. As a trade-only show, manufacturers exhibit at the Show to unveil new products and connect with buyers to do business.

Manufacturers interested in learning more or exhibiting at the upcoming event can visit www.SEMAShow.com/buyabooth, or contact 909-396-0289, sales@sema.org for details.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Louisiana Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation to annually designate the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the second weekend in July as "Louisiana Collector Car Appreciation" weekend.

Legislation to annually designate the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the second weekend in July as "Louisiana Collector Car Appreciation" weekend was approved by the Louisiana Senate Judiciary Committee and now moves to the floor of the Senate for a vote by all members. The bill has already been approved by the full House of Representatives.

Earlier this year, the SEMA Action Network (SAN) announced these dates to mark the fifth commemoration in what has become an annual event to raise awareness of the vital role automotive restoration and collection plays in American society. SAN is again working to secure a U.S. Congressional resolution to recognize the day’s significance.

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 Louisiana Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation to annually designate the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the second weekend in July as "Louisiana Collector Car Appreciation" weekend.

Legislation to annually designate the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the second weekend in July as "Louisiana Collector Car Appreciation" weekend was approved by the Louisiana Senate Judiciary Committee and now moves to the floor of the Senate for a vote by all members. The bill has already been approved by the full House of Representatives.

Earlier this year, the SEMA Action Network (SAN) announced these dates to mark the fifth commemoration in what has become an annual event to raise awareness of the vital role automotive restoration and collection plays in American society. SAN is again working to secure a U.S. Congressional resolution to recognize the day’s significance.

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 Louisiana Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation to annually designate the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the second weekend in July as "Louisiana Collector Car Appreciation" weekend.

Legislation to annually designate the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the second weekend in July as "Louisiana Collector Car Appreciation" weekend was approved by the Louisiana Senate Judiciary Committee and now moves to the floor of the Senate for a vote by all members. The bill has already been approved by the full House of Representatives.

Earlier this year, the SEMA Action Network (SAN) announced these dates to mark the fifth commemoration in what has become an annual event to raise awareness of the vital role automotive restoration and collection plays in American society. SAN is again working to secure a U.S. Congressional resolution to recognize the day’s significance.

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 Louisiana Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation to annually designate the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the second weekend in July as "Louisiana Collector Car Appreciation" weekend.

Legislation to annually designate the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the second weekend in July as "Louisiana Collector Car Appreciation" weekend was approved by the Louisiana Senate Judiciary Committee and now moves to the floor of the Senate for a vote by all members. The bill has already been approved by the full House of Representatives.

Earlier this year, the SEMA Action Network (SAN) announced these dates to mark the fifth commemoration in what has become an annual event to raise awareness of the vital role automotive restoration and collection plays in American society. SAN is again working to secure a U.S. Congressional resolution to recognize the day’s significance.

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

Kentucky legislation to change the valuation procedure on vehicles for purposes of the property tax died when the legislature adjourned for the year.

Kentucky legislation to change the valuation procedure on vehicles for purposes of the property tax died when the legislature adjourned for the year. The bill would have put a new valuation procedure in place for older vehicles. Vehicles 20 years old or older would no longer have been presumed to be in "original factory" or "classic" condition. The measure instead provided three options for assessing the value of these vehicles. The bill preserved the tax assessor's ability to deviate from this valuation formula if information is available to warrant such a deviation from standard value. Newer vehicles would have been valued at the “average trade-in” value rather than the higher "clean trade-in" value.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Kentucky legislation to change the valuation procedure on vehicles for purposes of the property tax died when the legislature adjourned for the year.

Kentucky legislation to change the valuation procedure on vehicles for purposes of the property tax died when the legislature adjourned for the year. The bill would have put a new valuation procedure in place for older vehicles. Vehicles 20 years old or older would no longer have been presumed to be in "original factory" or "classic" condition. The measure instead provided three options for assessing the value of these vehicles. The bill preserved the tax assessor's ability to deviate from this valuation formula if information is available to warrant such a deviation from standard value. Newer vehicles would have been valued at the “average trade-in” value rather than the higher "clean trade-in" value.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Kentucky legislation to change the valuation procedure on vehicles for purposes of the property tax died when the legislature adjourned for the year.

Kentucky legislation to change the valuation procedure on vehicles for purposes of the property tax died when the legislature adjourned for the year. The bill would have put a new valuation procedure in place for older vehicles. Vehicles 20 years old or older would no longer have been presumed to be in "original factory" or "classic" condition. The measure instead provided three options for assessing the value of these vehicles. The bill preserved the tax assessor's ability to deviate from this valuation formula if information is available to warrant such a deviation from standard value. Newer vehicles would have been valued at the “average trade-in” value rather than the higher "clean trade-in" value.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation to create a rolling emissions inspection exemption for vehicles that are 40 years old or older was not considered in committee before the mandatory deadline.

Legislation to create a rolling emissions inspection exemption for vehicles that are 40 years old or older was not considered in committee before the mandatory deadline. The bill is dead for the year.

Arizona already has a 2011 law on the books to exempt all vehicles manufactured in model-year ’74 and earlier from the state’s mandatory biennial emissions inspection program. However, it has yet to take effect. Arizona regulators must first update the state’s air-quality plan and demonstrate that the exemption will not impact Arizona’s compliance with clean-air requirements. The updated plan must then be approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has indicated that it intends to submit a revised air-quality plan to the EPA by early 2015. The EPA will then have another 18 months to approve or reject the changes.

In the meantime, the current exemptions for pre-’67 vehicles and “collectibles” remain in effect. To qualify for the “collectible” exemption, a vehicle must be maintained primarily for use in club activities, exhibitions, parades or other functions of public interest and have a collectible vehicle or classic automobile insurance policy restricting use. The collectible exemption also requires the owner own a secondary vehicle for general transportation.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation to create a rolling emissions inspection exemption for vehicles that are 40 years old or older was not considered in committee before the mandatory deadline.

Legislation to create a rolling emissions inspection exemption for vehicles that are 40 years old or older was not considered in committee before the mandatory deadline. The bill is dead for the year.

Arizona already has a 2011 law on the books to exempt all vehicles manufactured in model-year ’74 and earlier from the state’s mandatory biennial emissions inspection program. However, it has yet to take effect. Arizona regulators must first update the state’s air-quality plan and demonstrate that the exemption will not impact Arizona’s compliance with clean-air requirements. The updated plan must then be approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has indicated that it intends to submit a revised air-quality plan to the EPA by early 2015. The EPA will then have another 18 months to approve or reject the changes.

In the meantime, the current exemptions for pre-’67 vehicles and “collectibles” remain in effect. To qualify for the “collectible” exemption, a vehicle must be maintained primarily for use in club activities, exhibitions, parades or other functions of public interest and have a collectible vehicle or classic automobile insurance policy restricting use. The collectible exemption also requires the owner own a secondary vehicle for general transportation.

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