Uncategorized Archives - Automotive Service Association - National https://www.asashop.org Mon, 12 Feb 2024 19:46:34 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.1 https://growthzonesitesprod.azureedge.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/1406/2019/12/cropped-favicon-32x32.png Uncategorized Archives - Automotive Service Association - National https://www.asashop.org 32 32 Repair Policy Scan Tool: February 12, 2024 https://www.asashop.org/2024/02/12/repair-policy-scan-tool-february-12-2024/ Mon, 12 Feb 2024 19:46:34 +0000 https://www.asashop.org/?p=64918 Repair Policy Scan Tool: February 12, 2024 Click here to read the latest edition of ASA's Repair Policy Scan Tool newsletter.  Categories Auto Repair Automotive Parts Clean Air Watch EPA Featured Information Availability Insurance Issues New Vehicle Technologies Replacement Crash Parts Service Information Small Business Uncategorized Vehicle Inspections Vehicle Safety Archives Archives Select Month February…

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Repair Policy Scan Tool: February 12, 2024

Click here to read the latest edition of ASA's Repair Policy Scan Tool newsletter. 

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]]> U.S. House Passes Bipartisan Tax Bill Supported by ASA https://www.asashop.org/2024/02/01/u-s-house-passes-bipartisan-tax-bill-supported-by-asa/ Thu, 01 Feb 2024 16:19:48 +0000 https://www.asashop.org/?p=64898 U.S. House Passes Bipartisan Tax Bill Supported by ASA The United States House of Representatives has passed the bipartisan Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 (H.R. 7024). It easily surpassed the two-thirds vote threshold needed to pass under the expedited rules. The bill received 357 votes in favor and 70 opposed.…

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U.S. House Passes Bipartisan Tax Bill Supported by ASA

The United States House of Representatives has passed the bipartisan Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 (H.R. 7024). It easily surpassed the two-thirds vote threshold needed to pass under the expedited rules. The bill received 357 votes in favor and 70 opposed. ASA supports this legislation.

Some of the key changes H.R. 7024 would make to the tax code, if ultimately enacted, would include:

  • Reclassifying interest paid on certain business loans as allowable deductions.
  • Providing for a 100 percent bonus depreciation allowance for qualified property – such as equipment and vehicles – acquired and placed in service between December 31, 2022, and January 1, 2026.
  • Raising the maximum amount a business may expense for qualifying property from $1 million (reduced by the amount by which the cost exceeds $2.5 million) to $1.29 million (reduced by the amount by which the cost exceeds $3.22 million), adjusting for inflation for taxable years after 2024.
  • Changing how the maximum refundable credit is calculated by including consideration for the number of children in a household.
  • Increasing the maximum per-child limit from $1,600 to $1,800 for tax year 2023, along with annual increases to the cap adjusted for inflation each ensuing year through 2025.

H.R. 7024 now awaits consideration in the U.S. Senate, where it must pass before it can be signed into law by the President.

Click here for a comprehensive summary of all the bill's provisions. 

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]]> ASA Launches “Repair Policy Scan Tool” Legislative Newsletter https://www.asashop.org/2024/01/30/asa-launches-repair-policy-scan-tool-legislative-newsletter/ Tue, 30 Jan 2024 16:06:02 +0000 https://www.asashop.org/?p=64880 ASA Launches “Repair Policy Scan Tool” Legislative Newsletter Lawmakers rely on constituent feedback to make good decisions. Staying informed about the laws they are considering that could impact an auto repair shop owner or operator's ability to run a successful business empowers repairers to speak up in crucial moments. But it's hard to keep up…

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ASA Launches “Repair Policy Scan Tool” Legislative Newsletter

Lawmakers rely on constituent feedback to make good decisions. Staying informed about the laws they are considering that could impact an auto repair shop owner or operator's ability to run a successful business empowers repairers to speak up in crucial moments. But it's hard to keep up with the news, especially when your hands are already full with the responsibilities and pressures of running a business. ASA is launching a tool to make it easier.

Every two weeks or so, ASA will send out a new edition of "Repair Policy Scan Tool." Of the thousands of bills introduced each year in Congress and state legislatures, this newsletter will help distill the legislative developments that matter most to auto repair professionals on just one easy to read page.

Click here to read the first installation of Repair Policy Scan Tool!

Click here to sign up to get future Repair Policy Scan Tools emailed to you. 

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]]> ASA-Endorsed Federal Tax Bill Passes Committee, Full House Could Happen this Week https://www.asashop.org/2024/01/29/asa-endorsed-federal-tax-bill-passes-committee-full-house-vote-expected-this-week/ Mon, 29 Jan 2024 17:11:50 +0000 https://www.asashop.org/?p=64870 ASA-Endorsed Federal Tax Bill Passes Committee, Full House Could Happen this Week A bipartisan federal tax bill, endorsed by ASA, passed the U.S. House Ways & Means Committee with 40 votes in favor and 3 votes against. Congressional sources say the full U.S. House of Representatives may vote on the legislation this week. The following…

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ASA-Endorsed Federal Tax Bill Passes Committee, Full House Could Happen this Week

A bipartisan federal tax bill, endorsed by ASA, passed the U.S. House Ways & Means Committee with 40 votes in favor and 3 votes against. Congressional sources say the full U.S. House of Representatives may vote on the legislation this week.

The following provisions in H.R. 7024, the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024, could positively impact automotive repair facilities:

  • Reclassifying interest paid on certain business loans as an allowable deduction and providing for a 100 percent bonus depreciation allowance for qualified property – such as equipment and vehicles – acquired and placed in service between Dec. 31, 2022, and Jan. 1, 2026.
  • Raising the maximum amount a business may expense for qualifying property from $1 million (reduced by the amount by which the cost exceeds $2.5 million) to $1.29 million (reduced by the amount by which the cost exceeds $3.22 million), adjusting for inflation for taxable years after 2024.

If enacted, the bill would also expand the Child Tax Credit. It would change how the maximum refundable credit is calculated by including consideration for the number of children in a household. Furthermore, it would increase the maximum per-child limit from $1,600 to $1,800 for tax year 2023, along with annual increases to the cap adjusted for inflation each ensuing year through 2025.

Click here to read a section by section summary of the legislation. 

Click here to read the legislation in its entirety. 

Click here to read ASA's press release on the announcement that a bipartisan tax agreement had been reached. 

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]]> Bill Introduced in Hawaii would Lower Thresholds for Mandatory Overtime Pay https://www.asashop.org/2024/01/23/bill-introduced-in-hawaii-would-lower-thresholds-for-mandatory-overtime-pay/ Tue, 23 Jan 2024 21:30:27 +0000 https://www.asashop.org/?p=64826 Bill Introduced in Hawaii would Lower Thresholds for Mandatory Overtime Pay A bill introduced in Hawaii's legislature on January 19, 2024 would lower the working hours thresholds for an employee to be legally entitled to overtime compensation. If passed, Senate Bill (SB) 2610 - which was introduced by State Senator Henry Aquino (D) - would…

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Bill Introduced in Hawaii would Lower Thresholds for Mandatory Overtime Pay

A bill introduced in Hawaii's legislature on January 19, 2024 would lower the working hours thresholds for an employee to be legally entitled to overtime compensation.

If passed, Senate Bill (SB) 2610 - which was introduced by State Senator Henry Aquino (D) - would mandate:

  • At least 1.5x pay for work exceeding 40 hours in a work-week.
  • At least 1.5x pay for the 8th to 12th hours worked in a day AND 2x pay for the hours exceeding 12 hours of work in a day AND 2x pay for work exceeding 8 hours on the 7th consecutive day of work, if the employee worked for more than 8 hours for more than 6 days of the work-week.

The overtime provisions described above would be extended to cover minors that are 16 and 17 years old.

Click here to read SB 2610 in its entirety. 

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]]> Biden Admin Awards $623 Million in Grants to Expand EV Charging Infrastructure https://www.asashop.org/2024/01/12/biden-admin-awards-623-million-in-grants-to-expand-ev-charging-infrastructure/ Fri, 12 Jan 2024 18:11:10 +0000 https://www.asashop.org/?p=64754 Biden Admin Awards $623 Million in Grants to Expand EV Charging Infrastructure The Biden Administration has announced that it has awarded grants worth a combined $623 million to help expand EV charging infrastructure in the United States. Administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the grants are funded by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs…

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Biden Admin Awards $623 Million in Grants to Expand EV Charging Infrastructure

The Biden Administration has announced that it has awarded grants worth a combined $623 million to help expand EV charging infrastructure in the United States.

Administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the grants are funded by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which allocated $2.5 billion towards a Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program. Projects aimed at addressing EV charging needs in urban and rural communities received $311 million. Projects aimed at narrowing EV charging service gaps along key roadway corridors received $312 million.

The 47 CFI grants were awarded to recipients in 22 states and Puerto Rico. Examples of projects include:

  • $4.9 million to improve EV charging access in Boulder, Colorado
  • $70 million to build EV charging and hydrogen refueling stations for freight trucks in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin, which will also contribute to a California to Texas hydrogen fueling corridor

Click here for a list of all grant recipients.

Click here to read FHWA's press release. 

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]]> UPDATE: U.S. House to Vote on Imported Material Exception for EV Chargers https://www.asashop.org/2024/01/08/u-s-house-to-vote-on-imported-material-exception-for-ev-chargers/ Mon, 08 Jan 2024 21:15:30 +0000 https://www.asashop.org/?p=64746 UPDATE: U.S. House to Vote on Imported Material Exception for EV Chargers The United States House of Representatives plans to vote this week on a resolution that would nullify a rule - finalized by the Federal Highway Administration - that would temporarily waive certain domestic content requirements for electric vehicle (EV) chargers funded through the…

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UPDATE: U.S. House to Vote on Imported Material Exception for EV Chargers

The United States House of Representatives plans to vote this week on a resolution that would nullify a rule - finalized by the Federal Highway Administration - that would temporarily waive certain domestic content requirements for electric vehicle (EV) chargers funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA). The IIJA provides $7.5 billion for EV charging infrastructure.

Most Republican members of congress support S.J. Res. 38 because a waiver would prolong the U.S.'s EV supply chain reliance on China, they argue. On the other hand, most Democrats argue that eliminating the waiver would actually increase China's footprint by also taking away other domestic sourcing requirements for EV chargers, therefore making it easier to spend taxpayer dollars on Chinese companies.

The U.S. Senate passed S.J. Res. 38 in November with 50 in favor and 48 against. Four Democrats voted in favor and one Republican voted against. President Biden has vowed to veto the resolution if the House sends it to his desk, as is expected.

Click here to read S.J. Res. 38 in its entirety. 

UPDATED JAN. 24, 2024:

President Biden vetoed S.J. Res. 38 after it passed the U.S. House of Representatives with 209 votes in favor and 198 votes against. Two Democrats joined most Republicans in voting yes, while two Republicans joined most Democrats in voting no.

Congress can override the President's veto with a 2/3 majority vote in both the Senate and House, but there aren't likely enough votes in either chamber to override the veto.

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]]> U.S. House Committee Examines Health of Nation’s Small Business Environment https://www.asashop.org/2023/12/12/u-s-house-committee-examines-health-of-nations-small-business-environment/ Tue, 12 Dec 2023 18:26:19 +0000 https://www.asashop.org/?p=64678 U.S. House Committee Examines Health of Nation’s Small Business Environment Earlier today, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business held its last hearing of the year, titled "A Year in Review: The State of Small Business in America." The committee heard testimony from four small business owners who described the factors contributing to…

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U.S. House Committee Examines Health of Nation’s Small Business Environment

Earlier today, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business held its last hearing of the year, titled "A Year in Review: The State of Small Business in America." The committee heard testimony from four small business owners who described the factors contributing to their companies' successes and challenges, as well as the ways the federal government could help alleviate those struggles.

Problems and suggested solutions discussed repeatedly during the hearing include:

  • Workforce shortages: Prioritize more funding for trades education programs so they can hire the best instructors. Make tuition for trades education eligible for more financial aid programs. Update the resources provided by the Small Business Administration and update trade school curriculum to reflect the realities of the modern economy.
  • Childcare: Make high quality childcare options more affordable and accessible to give entrepreneurs the capital and flexibility needed to create businesses while also expanding the pool of prospective employees who also need childcare in order to participate in the workforce.
  • Inflation and high interest rates: Rein in high government spending and other policies that diminish access to capital.
  • Lack of affordable housing: Increase the housing stock. Change zoning laws to allow housing to exist in more areas.
  • Artificial Intelligence: Regulate AI in a way that ensures it remains accessible to small businesses and not for the exclusive use of large companies.

Click here to watch a video recording of the hearing. 

 

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]]> LiDAR Imports and Exports to and from China Scrutinized by U.S. House Members https://www.asashop.org/2023/11/29/lidar-imports-and-exports-to-and-from-china-scrutinized-by-u-s-house-members/ Wed, 29 Nov 2023 17:29:59 +0000 https://www.asashop.org/?p=64646 LiDAR Imports and Exports to and from China Scrutinized by U.S. House Members A bipartisan group of twenty members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to the Secretaries of the Departments of Defense, Commerce, and the Treasury raising concern with light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology imports and exports to and from…

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LiDAR Imports and Exports to and from China Scrutinized by U.S. House Members

A bipartisan group of twenty members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to the Secretaries of the Departments of Defense, Commerce, and the Treasury raising concern with light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology imports and exports to and from China.

The letter - led by House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Chairman Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) - explains that LiDAR is used in autonomous vehicle systems. Specifically:

"It uses pulsed laser light to measure the distance, speed, and/or altitude of physical objects to map the surrounding environment. The technology is crucial for creating high-definition maps around autonomous vehicles, raising serious national security concerns related to data security, cybersecurity, and exquisite mapping of U.S. infrastructure... There is a serious national security risk that under [China's] National Security Law, all [Chinese] LiDAR companies must provide any available data collected by their products and systems to the CCP, when required."

Click here to read the full letter. 

For these reasons, the lawmakers asked the department secretaries to investigate if import and export restrictions on LiDAR products to and from China are warranted. This letter reflects the growing intersection between automotive, data privacy, and national security policy.

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]]> Progress Towards Building EV Charging Network using Federal Dollars Varies by State https://www.asashop.org/2023/11/28/progress-towards-building-ev-charging-network-using-federal-dollars-varies-by-state/ Tue, 28 Nov 2023 17:02:08 +0000 https://www.asashop.org/?p=64638 Progress Towards Building EV Charging Network using Federal Dollars Varies by State The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed in 2021 allocated $7.5 billion towards building a national EV charging network. Each state assumes responsibility for spending those funds and implementation oversight. As expected, the current status this endeavor varies by state. No EV charger…

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Progress Towards Building EV Charging Network using Federal Dollars Varies by State

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed in 2021 allocated $7.5 billion towards building a national EV charging network. Each state assumes responsibility for spending those funds and implementation oversight. As expected, the current status this endeavor varies by state.

  • No EV charger installed using these federal funds are operational yet.
  • Two states (Ohio and Pennsylvania) have begun construction.
  • Six states (Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, and Utah) have awarded contracts for charging sites.
  • Fifteen states (Alabama, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia) and Puerto Rico have solicited bids.
  • Twenty-seven states (Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming) and D.C. haven't begun soliciting bids yet (New York, Nevada, and Vermont are rewarding initial contracts outside of a public bidding process)

Click here to read an in-depth analysis. 

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