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House clarifies political sign rules, makes certain violations infractions; bill passes unanimously
Summary
House Bill 292 clarifies that affixing objects that obscure or alter political signs is prohibited, allows any person to remedy sign violations, and makes a technical change replacing a class C misdemeanor designation with an infraction; House passed the bill 69–0.
The House unanimously approved first substitute House Bill 292, political sign amendments, which clarifies that attaching objects to another person’s political sign that hide or misrepresent its message is prohibited. The bill also authorizes any person to remedy a noncompliant political sign and clarifies disclosure requirements for lawn signs larger than 24 by 18 inches. Sponsor Representative Tesher described examples in which a sticker or object could change a sign’s message and said local officials lacked clarity on whether existing statutes covered the conduct.
During floor debate the sponsor moved an amendment to change a penalty reference from a class C misdemeanor to an infraction to align statutory penalties with municipal codes; Representative McPherson questioned whether other sections retained class B misdemeanor language, and the sponsor confirmed the class B misdemeanor provisions remained in other sections. The House adopted the amendment and passed the bill 69–0.
Representative Tesher said the measure is intended to protect speech and clarify existing rules so citizens and enforcement officials understand prohibited conduct and removal authority.
