As summer kicks off early nationwide, the folks at the Specialty Equipment Market Association have their eye on the prize even as winter weather fades away. Lucky for all of us, that prize is legislative fairness when it comes to our beloved hobby, and without SEMA’s help, who knows where our hobby would be these days. Check out this month’s Law & Order update below to see what you need to be talking about in May.

In a day and age when automotive emissions are a hot-button issue, it’s a constant battle between collector car owners whose vehicles were not made for today’s strict emission standards and states that are adamant about cutting down pollution emitted from vehicles to incredible lows. Luckily, an increasing number of states are putting provisions into their legislative policies exempting classic cars and trucks from emission testing, providing the best of both worlds if you will.

One of these states is Arizona, where a law exempting all pre-1966 and collector vehicles from emission testing was signed into law in 2011. This law is still in place but some enthusiasts are pushing to have it changed so that all vehicles 40 years or older would be exempt from emissions testing. Legislation has been introduced in the state in this regard, which is now awaiting consideration and approval from the EPA.

In Washington, a bill aiming to exempt designated collectible vehicles from emissions will now go to the Senate floor for a full vote after passing through the whole house and Senate Transportation Committee.

In New Jersey, enthusiasts are dealing with another side of emission inspections as they fight to have certificates of exemption issued to all exempt vehicles, including registered historic motor vehicles, motorcycles, and designated collector vehicles.

As these vehicles are exempt from emission inspections, they don’t receive certificates of approval, which are required by law to be affixed to the windshield of road-going vehicles. If approved, this extra measure would eliminate unwarranted police stops of exempt vehicles for not displaying a proper approval certificate.

Also in New Jersey, SEMA is backing legislation that could exempt local shops from having to provide a written estimate for work on or the restoration of antique or collector vehicles. Currently, shops that don’t provide a written estimate, including estimated prices for parts and work hours can be found in violation of the consumer fraud law.

In Kentucky, the Senate is set to consider a bill that would reduce the estimated value of vehicles for property tax reasons. Already approved by the full house, if signed into law, this bill will reduce the presumed value of vehicles 20 years or older from “original factory or classic” value down to a lesser value, meaning owners won’t have to pay property taxes based on unrealistic assessed values.

In Michigan, historic military vehicles will no longer have to display an exterior license plate if the vehicle did not originally come with an appropriate bracket and lighting system for the display of a plate. Those military vehicles that aren’t required to display a plate on the exterior of the vehicle will still have to have a plate available in the vehicle at all times.

In Maryland, SEMA has their work cut out for them as they work with bill sponsors to come to a fair compromise for the historic vehicle statute that is aiming to increase the age requirement for a historic vehicle from 20 years to 25 years.

If signed into law, the current bill would not only up the age for historic vehicles in the state, it would also require all historic vehicles to be insured under a policy just for historic vehicles, as well as vehicle owners to have a “daily driver” also registered in the state.

SEMA is also fighting legislative action in Maryland that is asking for the approval of a $20 annual registration surcharge for all street-going motor vehicles. SEMA is fighting for a fair compromise that takes into consideration the limited use and contribution to traffic/road distress of hobby vehicles.

In Tennessee, a SEMA-supported bill, which exempts antique motor vehicles from the privilege tax, will soon be signed into law by Governor Bill Haslam. Under this law, historic vehicle owners will no longer have to pay a yearly privilege tax, but rather might have to pay a one-time tax.

Last but not least this month is the approval of another hobbiest-friendly law, which will allow Ohio classic vehicle owners to have their vehicles on the road to go to and from a repair facility without being in violation of the current motor vehicle code. This code allows for only limited use of historic vehicles on public roads.

Certainly there is a lot to take into consideration this month, but SEMA and the SEMA Action Network are both working hard to keep you informed while keeping legislature in check.

For up-to-the-minute hobbiest legislative updates, be sure to sign up with the SEMA Action Network!