Registration is Now Open! – 2024 ACRA D.C. Car Rental Conference – September 15 – 18, 2024
Building on the tremendous success of the 2023 ACRA D.C. Car Rental Conference – overwhelming positive feedback on operational and political education, record attendance, record fundraising for ACRAPAC, and dozens of meetings with legislators and their staff on key ACRA federal policy issues – the ACRA Board of Directors has set the 2024 ACRA D.C. Car Rental Conference for Sunday through Wednesday, September 15 – 18, 2024 (2024 ACRA DC Conference Draft Schedule). ACRA will return again to the Westin Gateway Arlington as the headquarters hotel and will focus a day on operational education sessions from expert speakers, a day on political education from key stakeholders and legislators, and a day of “citizen lobbying” on Capitol Hill to build relationships and advance the interests of the car rental industry as a whole.
With respect to Capitol Hill, the policy focus for panel discussions on Tuesday and congressional meetings on Wednesday tentatively will be on the following topics: (1) travel and tourism promotion; (2) diversion of CFC revenue to non-CONRAC airport projects; (3) vehicle owner access to vehicle data; (4) full expensing and federal tax bills in 2024 and 2025; (5) zero emission vehicle infrastructure and airport CONRAC electrification; (6) discriminatory car rental excise taxes; and, (7) increased vehicle and vehicle parts thefts. ACRA will conduct a poll of 2023 registrants and 2024 registrants this Summer to make sure that these are the federal policy topics that attendees want to talk about.
To register for the 2024 ACRA D.C. Car Rental Conference, click here: Registration for 2024 ACRA D.C. Conference . To reserve your room at the Westin in Arlington, please follow this link to secure the ACRA conference rate: Book your group rate for American Car Rental Association 2024. The deadline for the room block is August 19, 2024.
Remember, the 2022 and 2023 ACRA D.C. Conferences sold out and the hotel ran out of rooms for attendees. So, please jump on these registration and room opportunities now so you are not excluded from the conference in 2024!
Federal Legislative and Regulatory Updates
- Tax Bill – There has been no movement in the Senate on H.R. 7024, the federal tax bill that passed the House overwhelmingly in 2023. The bill, which includes a retroactive reinstatement of 100% full expensing for personal property supported by ACRA, is stuck in the legislative “mud” due to policy and political disputes in the Senate GOP Caucus. There is a slim possibility that Senate Majority Leader Schumer (D-NY) will schedule Senate floor time for the bill in the coming weeks and in essence dare Senate Republicans to vote against a bill supported by a broad coalition of business interests.
- Data Privacy – The Innovation Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved by voice vote a revised “discussion draft” of the “American Data Privacy Act of 2024” on May 23, 2024. The revised bill (ADPA Approved by Subcommittee) contains some changes to the bill announced by E&C Chair Rodgers (R-WA) and Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA) in April. House Democrats (and Senate Republicans) continue to withhold their support for the House discussion draft, making it unlikely that the bill will move much further in 2024.
- FAA Reauthorization – Congress approved a 5-year reauthorization of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs on May 15, 2024 and President Biden signed the bill into law on May 16, 2024. There were no provisions in the FAA bill of significant interest to ACRA members.
- EV Tax Credits – The IRS and the Department of Treasury released guidance on taking advantage of federal electric vehicle tax credits on May 3, 2024. A copy of the final rules can be accessed through this link (Final IRS EV Rule).
- NLRB “Joint Employer” Rule – Finalized on 10/26/23, the Rule was stayed by a federal court on 3/10/24. The NLRB appealed that district court decision on 5/10/24 to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
ACRA State Activities
- Hawaii – ACRA sent a letter (ACRA Hawaii MFR Veto Letter) to the Governor of Hawaii on May 15, 2024 asking him to veto HB 2342, which would increase “minimum financial responsibility” (MFR) requirements in the state to 40/80/20; efforts to make rental car companies “primary” in the state were defeated – as least for 2024!
- Colorado – Despite active lobbying by ACRA and its members against it, a proposal by the state government, the House speaker, and the Senate president to impose a $3.00/day fee on car and truck rentals in the state to pay for light rail projects was signed by Colorado governor on May 15, 2024; ACRA’s leaders are discussing potential challenges to the new Colorado vehicle rental fee, which would go into effect on 1/1/25.
- New York – Legislation has been introduced in the New York Senate to repeal the car rental industry’s sales tax exemption when purchasing new vehicles; it is too soon to know whether this bill will gain traction, but ACRA has opposed vigorously such proposals in other states and will also do so in New York.
- Michigan — ACRA testified against a Michigan bill (HB4902) on May 15, 2024 (ACRA Michigan Testimony) which would require a car rental company to “ground” a vehicle if the company suspects a renter has violated the company’s no smoking policy until such time as the renter returns to inspect the car; the bill provides no deadline for such a renter inspection, which means the vehicle could be out of use for weeks or months!
- California – Legislation (AB2741) is moving forward to deter vehicle theft and reduce the time period before a car rental company can “ping” an overdue vehicle’s GPS to determine its location; more work is needed by ACRA members on this legislation, which has passed the House and is pending in the Senate.
ACRAPAC D.C. Congressional Reception
ACRAPAC’s Congressional Reception at the D.C. Car Rental Conference in September will be on the evening of September 17, 2024 on Capitol Hill. Attendees are limited to 2024 ACRAPAC contributors. Plans are to invite a select and senior group of House and Senate legislators to join ACRA members for another successful D.C. PAC reception. If you have questions about ACRAPAC, please contact Sharon or Greg.
ACRA Membership Activity
New Regular Operator Member
- Discover Car Hire AS, Latvia
- Elegant Rent A Car Inc., Winter Haven, FL
- Elite Rent A Car, Houston TX
- Renta Florida, Miami, FL
- Ride Buddy, LLC. Lavergne, TN
New Associate Supplier Members
- Discover Car Hire, AS Latvia
- Ileftmystuff.com, Mono, Ontario Canada
- Lokithor, Livermore, CA
- Pennsylvania Insurance Companies, Bala Cynwyd, PA
Renewals Regular Operator Member
- Boundaries Auto LLC, Newark, NJ
- Horizon Rental Car, Jonesboro, GA
