HB 2023 Summary

• Expands protection for political signs to include signs supporting or opposing ballot measures, questions, or issues, in addition to candidate signs.

• Makes it a class 2 misdemeanor to knowingly remove, alter, deface, or cover political signs or printed materials during the 45-day period before a primary election through 7 days after the general election (or 7 days after the primary election if the candidate does not advance to the general election).

• Authorizes city, town, or county jurisdictions to remove political signs only if they violate safety requirements, obstruct vision, violate Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, exceed size limits (16 square feet in residential areas, 32 square feet elsewhere), or lack required candidate/committee contact information.

• Requires jurisdictions to notify candidates or campaign committees of violations and wait at least 24 hours before removing signs, and to retain removed signs for at least 10 business days.

• Exempts state highways and overpasses from political sign placement protections; allows commercial tourism zones (up to 3 square miles per municipality, maximum 2 zones) to prohibit political signs in rights-of-way.