A SEMA-supported Colorado bill that originally sought to extend the emissions inspection exemption to vehicles that are eight model years old and newer died when the legislature adjourned for the year.

Legislation to ban the installation, ownership or use of any car with aftermarket speakers more than 6.5 in. in height or depth, any five-speaker aftermarket system, any aftermarket speaker more than 100 watts and any aftermarket speaker installed external to the passenger compartment or in an open hatch back was deferred from consideration in 2011.

Persuaded by the opposition of SEMA, Nebraska legislation to remove labeling requirements on pumps dispensing ethanol-blended gasoline was “indefinitely postponed” in 2011.

A two-year study conducted by the Coordinating Research Council (CRC) concludes that at least 5 million newer vehicles on the road today could be threatened with engine damage from gasoline that contains 15% or 20% ethanol (E15/E20).

The U.S. House of Representatives amended the annual defense strategy bill to include a requirement that the United States Marines issue a report that considers alternative ways to share the “Johnson Valley” off-highway (OHV) recreation area in southern California without taking ownership rights to the land. The land has been managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for decades.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is phasing-out a rule that certain gasoline stations install vapor-recovery nozzles on gas pumps. The pollution-control devices have been required since 1994 in about 40 ozone non-attainment areas across the country.

SEMA-opposed legislation that threatened to increase the age requirement for vehicles eligible for registration as “antique, rare or special interest motor vehicles” died when the Connecticut Legislature adjourned for the year, suffering the same fate as an identical bill last year.

More than 70 SEMA members met with their U.S. Representatives and Senators as part of the May 9 Washington Rally, providing a valuable opportunity to urge members of Congress to pursue a pro-growth manufacturing and job creation agenda.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is now authorized to share information with intellectual property right (IPR) holders for the limited purpose of determining whether certain goods bear counterfeit marks. These changes provide a pre-seizure procedure for disclosing information to the right holders who have recorded their trademarks with CBP and are now suspected of being victims of counterfeiting.

Two resolutions have been approved by the Hawaii State Legislature recognizing July 13, 2012 as “Collector Car Appreciation Day.” Earlier this year, SEMA designated this date to mark the third commemoration in what has become an annual event to raise awareness of the vital role automotive restoration and collection plays in American society. SEMA is again working to secure a U.S. Congressional resolution to recognize the day’s significance.