SEMA is supporting identical legislation in the Tennessee House of Representatives and Senate to exempt vehicles more than 25 years old from the state’s annual emissions inspection and maintenance program, where applicable.

A SEMA-opposed bill to ban the sale of certain new motor-vehicle exhaust systems or exhaust system components that cause motor vehicles to produce noise that exceeds noise limits has been introduced in Oregon and assigned to the House Transportation and Economic Development Committee. Under the bill, noise limits would be specified in rules adopted by the Environmental Quality Commission (DEQ).

Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman signed into law a SEMA-supported bill to redefine parts cars and make such vehicles easier to transfer. Prior to the bill’s enactment, Nebraska required a certificate of title when transferring any vehicle. The new law, effective immediately, allows for parts cars to be transferred using a bill of sale issued by the DMV.

SEMA is opposing legislation that would allow cities to remove inoperable vehicles from private property if the vehicle is deemed a “nuisance” under a local ordinance. The bill was approved by the Arkansas House of Representatives and will now be considered by the Senate Committee on City, County and Local Affairs.

SEMA-supported legislation to exempt all vehicles 25 years old and older from the state’s mandatory biennial emissions inspection and maintenance program was approved by the Senate Rules and Natural Resources and Transportation Committees.

After months of debate, the U.S. House of Representatives has approved legislation removing the costly 1099 reporting requirement from the health care law passed last year. H.R. 4, the “Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act,” was adopted after SEMA and other small business organizations advocated strongly on behalf of the provision. The legislation will now be sent to the Senate for action.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved hydrofluoroolefin (HFO-1234yf) as an acceptable substitute chemical for R-12 and other chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants in new motor vehicles.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will continue to allow tires to be recycled by burning them as fuel by an industrial facility. Supported by SEMA, the decision preserves an important recycling option, which accounts for more than 50% of annual scrap-tire disposals.

A bill in the North Dakota State Legislature to severely restrict the modification of any motor vehicle that alters the manufacturer's original suspension, steering or brake system has been amended and approved by the House Transportation Committee.

Legislation to increase the age requirement for vehicles eligible for registration as “antique, rare or special-interest motor vehicles” has been introduced in the Connecticut General Assembly. Under the SEMA-opposed bill, vehicles seeking registration under these classes would be required to be at least 25 years old.