Legislation to exempt from emissions inspections those vehicles that have not yet reached their 10th model year was denied approval by the Colorado Senate Transportation Committee on a 3–1 vote.

So far this year, thousands of new legislative initiatives have been introduced across the United States and Canada, hundreds of which are being closely tracked and analyzed by SEMA and its SEMA Action Network (SAN). We’ve already had several early successes with plenty more on the horizon. As a result of its dedicated following, the SAN remains the premier hobbyist network of its kind.

A U.S. House Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee held a hearing to examine the scientific, technical and consumer impact of gasoline with 15% ethanol (E15). The hearing focused on the potential negative impact of E15 on engines, components and fuel-delivery systems.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will now permit tire factory scraps and blemished tires (off-specification tires) to be burned as fuel rather than treated as solid waste.

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.

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.

Legislation has been introduced in Hawaii to reduce annual registration fees and state vehicle weight tax for antique motor vehicles.

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.

Legislation containing a SEMA-drafted amendment to totally exempt from the license tax all vehicles and parts cars stored on private property for the purpose of restoration or repair was approved by the Virginia State Legislature and will now be sent to the governor for his signature and enactment into law.

SEMA is supporting legislation (S. 344) introduced in the U.S. Senate to ban the sale of gasoline containing 15% ethanol. The bill would overturn actions taken by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) two years ago to permit ethanol levels to rise from 10% (E10) to 15% (E15).