Soaring gas prices caused the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to increase the standard business-mileage deduction by $.045, from $.51 to $.55½ for all business miles driven between July 1 and December 31, 2011. It is unusual for the IRS to make a mid-year adjustment.

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved legislation to overhaul the federal patent system. The Senate passed a slightly different version of the bill last March. The two bills must now be reconciled into a single measure. President Obama has indicated his support for the reform measures. 

The SEMA Action Network’s (SAN) monthly legislative newsletter, Driving Force, took home the gold medallion in the “Best Single Issue: Newsletter” category during the 20th International Automotive Media Awards, which took place June 20 at the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Michigan.

SEMA-supported legislation to provide historical vehicle owners a one-time registration fee of $100 upon initial registration was passed by the New York Senate. The bill will now be considered by the Assembly Transportation Committee.

Legislation that would give small-business owners a voice on the California Air Resources Board (CARB) was passed by the Senate Environmental Quality Committee and sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee. The bill has already been passed by the California Assembly. Introduced by Assemblymember Curt Hagman, who represents the Diamond Bar district in which SEMA headquarters is located, the bill would create a requirement for one CARB member to be a current owner of a small business.

The New York State Assembly has approved a resolution to memorialize July 8, 2011, as Collector Car Appreciation Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with National Collector Car Appreciation Day. The effort was sponsored by New York Assemblymember Bill Reilich, who has served the automotive hobbyist community for the past four years as national chairman of the State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus.

After an effort that stretched into two legislative sessions, SEMA-model legislation to create a vehicle registration classification for street rods and custom vehicles (including kit cars and replicas) and provide for special license plates was signed into law by Governor Rick Perry.

The following is a brief guide to the federal government’s “E-Verify” system, which allows employers to check employment eligibility documents against a federal database. The U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld an Arizona law that requires employers in Arizona to use the system. In addition to Arizona, some other states have variations of required use. It is currently voluntary for all other employers, although legislation is pending in Congress to make it mandatory.

SEMA-supported legislation to provide that historical vehicle owners only pay a one-time registration fee of $100 upon initial registration was passed by the New York Senate Transportation Committee.

Legislation that would give small business owners a voice on the California Air Resources Board (CARB) was passed unanimously by the full California Assembly and will be considered by the Senate Environmental Quality Committee on June 20. Introduced by assembly member Curt Hagman who represents the Diamond Bar district in which SEMA headquarters is located, the bill would create a requirement for one CARB member to be a current owner of a small business.