PRI and SEMA's efforts to ensure technology-neutral government policies are enshrined in states' laws took a major step forward in West Virginia last week.

The West Virginia legislature passed PRI- and SEMA-supported legislation prohibiting the state from restricting the use, purchase or sale of motor vehicles based on their energy source, i.e. electric-vehicle (EV) mandates that would ban internal-combustion engines. The "ban the ban" bill will now make its way to Governor Patrick Morrisey's desk, where he is expected to sign the bill into law.

PRI and SEMA are not anti-EV; rather, they champion a technology-neutral approach that fosters innovation and ingenuity. The associations will continue efforts at the federal and state levels to preserve Americans' rights to vehicle choice and the automotive aftermarket industry's ability to design, manufacture and bring to market products that help solve the emissions challenge.

For more information, contact Tierra Hubbard, PRI's senior manager for state government affairs, at tierrah@sema.org.