The U.S. Department of the Interior has withdrawn its controversial “wild lands” policy, which directed lands with potential wilderness qualities to be managed as wilderness. SEMA joined with a number of other organizations to oppose the program, implemented last December by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), since it usurps the exclusive authority of Congress to designate “wilderness.” The designation is consequential to SEMA members that produce equipment intended for off-road activities and their customers since no motorized activities are allowed on “wilderness” lands.

SEMA-supported legislation to exempt classic vehicles and classic rods from emissions inspections if owners pay a one-time $6 fee and submit a certification that their vehicle will not be driven more than 5,000 miles per year was signed into law by Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval.

The SEMA Action Network (SAN) will be on hand at the 40th Annual Country Music Association (CMA) Music Festival Power Zone to inform attendees about how they can get involved in the group’s legislative advocacy efforts. The Power Zone is designed as a new outreach endeavor aimed at the country music fan base, many of whom share a passion for automobiles.

Legislation to provide that classic vehicles and classic rods would be exempted from emissions inspections if owners pay a one-time $6 fee and submit a certification that their vehicle will not be driven more than 5,000 miles per year was passed unanimously by the full Nevada Senate.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have expanded the amount of fuel economy information contained on the new-vehicle window sticker. Among other changes, the information will now include the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the vehicle.

SEMA joined with a number of other organizations representing the off-road industry and enthusiasts to support legislation in Congress that would release 42 million acres of land from a wilderness designation. The lands have been set aside as “wilderness study areas” (WSAs) or “inventoried roadless areas.”

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved by a 10-0 vote legislation to help shut down rogue websites that sell counterfeit goods. Entitled the “Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act” (PROTECT IP), the SEMA-supported bill would authorize the Justice Department to obtain court orders requiring search engines in the United States to stop displaying links to domain names.

In a last-minute flurry of activity before the adjournment of the legislature, SEMA-model legislation (H.B. 890) to create a vehicle registration classification for street rods and custom vehicles and provide for special license plates for these vehicles was passed by the full Texas Senate.

At SEMA’s request, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) recently extended its “Parts in Progress” (PIP) program until September 30, 2011. she program was slated to conclude on June 30, 2011. The program was initiated in light of California's inclusion of light- and medium-duty diesel vehicles in its smog-check program.

Legislation to provide that classic vehicles and classic rods would be exempted from emissions inspections if owners pay a one-time $6 fee and submit a certification that their vehicle will not be driven more than 5,000 miles per year was passed by the Senate Transportation Committee and will now be considered by the full Nevada Senate.