SEMA-supported legislation to exempt reconstructed vehicles that are more than 25 years old from emissions testing was passed by the Delaware Senate and sent to the governor for his signature and enactment into law. The House of Representatives has already passed the measure.

More than 40 SEMA members met with their elected representatives in Washington, D.C., as part of the May 14 Washington Rally. The meetings were a valuable opportunity to urge members of Congress to pursue a pro-growth manufacturing and job-creation agenda.

President Obama designated the Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks area in southern New Mexico as a national monument. It is the 11th designation during his presidency and, at nearly 500,000 acres, it is more than twice as big as the previous largest designation—the 243,000-acre Rio Grande del Norte National Monument in northern New Mexico.

Legislation that would have required official inspection stations to test vehicles to determine if their exhaust systems “emit noise noticeably greater than that emitted by the vehicle as equipped from the factory” died when the legislature adjourned for the year.

A wide range of automotive events are held on the second Friday in July to honor Collector Car Appreciation Day (CCAD). At the request of the SEMA Action Network (SAN), this “holiday” has been marked each year since 2010 by a U.S. Senate Resolution recognizing that the “collection and restoration of historic and classic cars is an important part of preserving the technological achievements and cultural heritage of the United States.”

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a bill to permanently extend the research and development (R&D) credit. Several other bills to permanently extend tax credits that expired in 2013 are awaiting House consideration, including an extension of the $500,000 small-business expensing limit.

Legislation to annually designate the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the second weekend in July as "Louisiana Collector Car Appreciation" weekend was approved by the Louisiana Senate and now moves to Governor Bobby Jindal for his signature and enactment into law.

Legislation that originally repealed the six-year limitation for applying a salvage brand to a motor vehicle for which the cost of being repaired exceeded its value was signed into law by Governor John Hickenlooper.

Legislation to provide for a program that will allow classic-car status to be determined from nationally recognized standards and guides was approved by the full Senate.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) adjusted for inflation the maximum contributions that can be made to health savings accounts (HSAs) in 2015.