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Senate committee adopts amendment allowing municipal flags on municipal-owned utility poles
Summary
The City, County & Local Affairs Committee adopted an amendment and passed SB 263, which permits municipalities that own their utility poles to place up to three flags (U.S., state, or municipal flag) on those poles while excluding poles in state highway rights-of-way at the Department of Transportation’s request.
The City, County & Local Affairs Committee of the Arkansas Senate on Thursday adopted an amendment and passed Senate Bill 263, a measure that allows municipalities that own their utility poles to permit flags on those poles.
Senator Hammer, the bill’s sponsor, told the committee the change adopted in committee was requested by the Department of Transportation to exclude poles in state highway rights-of-way. "This amendment is requested by Department of Transportation," he said, adding the exclusion addresses federal visibility restrictions.
Under the bill as explained to the committee, a municipality that owns its electric utility and its poles may authorize the placement of up to three flags on municipal poles: the American flag, the Arkansas state flag, or the municipality’s official municipal flag. Hammer described the provision as permissive, saying the municipality would be allowed to permit flags "if that's what the municipality voted to do." He also noted utility companies had raised worker-safety concerns about unauthorized access to poles.
No members of the public spoke for or against the bill during the committee hearing. The committee adopted the DOT-sponsored amendment (seconded by Senator Sullivan) and later passed SB 263 as amended by voice vote. The chair said the bill was sent on to the next step in the process.
The bill, as amended, does not apply to poles located in state highway rights-of-way and limits signage to the three flag types specified; other details such as implementation timing or effective dates were not specified during the committee hearing.
