SEMA and PRI are expanding their Right-to-Race advocacy campaign nationwide. The time to protect race tracks is now, before more long-standing facilities are pushed out of their communities. Learn more at sema.org/advocacy/right-to-race. 

Here's the latest on SEMA and PRI's Right-to-Race advocacy campaign:  

Georgia 

Georgia lawmakers have moved quickly to advance House Bill (HB) 1066. Less than a week after its introduction, the bill received a hearing in the State and Local Government Subcommittee, where SEMA and PRI testified in support. Testimony highlighted the economic contributions and community impact that racing facilities have on real families across lawmakers’ districts. The bill passed the full Government Affairs Committee the following day. 

A group of race track owners and operators also spoke in support of the legislation, sharing an often-overlooked reality: race tracks regularly give back to their communities by hosting charity events and raising funds for local nonprofits. Investing in race tracks is investing in local communities. 
 

Missouri  

HB 3177 was introduced by Rep. Matt Matthiesen in the first week of February. This bill mirrors legislation in other states and extends that protection to inverse‑condemnation‑style claims, in which property owners can't sue the government or race tracks on the grounds that their property is unusable and therefore "taken," because of a race track's normal actions. The bill also bars state and local governments from filing nuisance actions against race tracks operating in compliance with permits and law.  
 

Wisconsin  

SEMA and PRI returned to Wisconsin during the second week of February to testify in support of Senate Bill 872 before the Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government. In the weeks leading up to the hearing, the SEMA and PRI Government Affairs team met with committee members to familiarize lawmakers with the policy before it reached their desks. 

Numerous organizations publicly voiced support for the legislation, including the Association of Wisconsin Tourism Attractions and the Wisconsin Restaurant Association. In addition, the League of Wisconsin Municipalities acknowledged race tracks as tourism drivers that help foster a strong sense of community. Most tracks are small, multi-generational businesses with limited resources. Many have been operating for decades, and with the right protections in place, they are here to stay. 
 

BACKGROUND 

The Right-to-Race efforts in Georgia, Missouri and Wisconsin are part of a coordinated, multi-state initiative led by SEMA and PRI to provide consistent protections for motorsports facilities nationwide. As more states advance similar legislation, the campaign is expected to continue gaining traction throughout the 2026 legislative cycle. 

SEMA and PRI will continue partnering with policymakers and the racing community to advance these bills and protect race tracks as vital economic and cultural institutions for generations to come. 

Learn more about the impact of motorsports on your state and community by taking a look at PRI's 2025 Motorsports Economic Impact Study, with an interactive map showing how racing drives economic success. 

For more information and to get involved in race track nuisance protection efforts in your state, contact SEMA Government Affairs at governmentaffairs@sema.org. 

For state-specific questions, contact one of our senior managers for state government affairs: 

• Tierra Hubbard (East Coast) at tierrah@sema.org 
• Victor Muñoz (West Coast) at victorm@sema.org 

Image courtesy of Shutterstock | Matthew Jacques