Advocacy

Massachusetts Bills Expire for the Year as State Legislature Adjourns

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Massachusetts
Several bills considered by the Massachusetts state legislature in 2018 failed to be approved prior to the adjournment of the session.

Several bills considered by the Massachusetts state legislature in 2018 failed to be approved prior to the adjournment of the session.

Legislation (H.B. 1857) that would have allowed vehicle owners to choose whether to display a front license plate was granted a Study Order and received a hearing but ultimately failed to pass out of the Joint Transportation Committee. A Study Order allows the committee of jurisdiction to review a bill during its recess prior to consideration. The bill also would have given the option of allowing owners to display a decorative plate on the front of a vehicle.

A bill (S.B. 2148) that would have created a separate definition for “antique motor vehicles” and require that they undergo annual emissions inspections to ensure that they meet emissions standards in effect at the time of manufacture was granted a Study Order and received a hearing but ultimately failed to pass out of the Joint Transportation Committee.

Legislation (H.B. 1872) that would have allowed vehicles registered as “Antique” to display year-of-manufacture plates with DMV approval passed its House committee but failed to receive a final vote on the House floor. Antique vehicles are defined as vehicles more than 25 years old that are maintained solely for use in exhibitions, club activities, parades and other functions of public interest.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.