Outdoor advertising displays: permits: landscaped freeways: relocation agreements.

Section 5441 cross-reference corrected: the removal-with-compensation provision now references only 'Sections 5412' instead of the erroneous 'Sections 5412 and 5443 or relocation 5412, or relocation.' This clarifies that removal with compensation is governed by Section 5412 alone.

Header and formatting updated to reflect enrolled bill status: added passage dates (Assembly Aug 25, Senate Aug 19), removed amendment history lines, added Governor approval line, and reformatted page numbering.

Section 5441 was revised to explicitly state that removal of a nonconforming advertising display comes with payment of compensation (per Sections 5412 and 5443), while relocation does not come with payment of compensation (per Section 5443). The prior language was ambiguous about which remedy triggered compensation.

The bill summary was updated to match the clarified statutory language, now stating the department may authorize 'removal with payment of compensation, or relocation without payment of compensation' rather than the previously ambiguous phrasing.

Section 5440 was deleted entirely. This section had established the criteria for a freeway segment to be classified as 'landscaped,' including requiring at least 20 feet average width of landscaped vegetation on department-owned property, planted at the same or elevated grade of the main-traveled way, and set rules for classification review requests and fees (up to $500). Without this section, the bill no longer defines what qualifies as a landscaped freeway segment.

Section 5441 was amended to change the remedy for violating displays. The Assembly version provided for 'relocation or removal, with payment of compensation.' The Senate version clarifies that compensation applies specifically to removal ('removal with payment of compensation') while relocation does not require compensation. This reduces the financial burden on display owners who choose to relocate rather than remove their signs.

Sections were renumbered as a result of removing Section 5440: former Section 3 (amending B&P Code 5441) became Section 2, and former Section 4 (amending B&P Code 5443) became Section 3.

The amendment to Section 5270 of the Business and Professions Code was removed entirely. That provision addressed the exclusivity of state regulation over local regulation of advertising displays in unincorporated areas near public highways. The legislative counsel's digest previously described this as a 'nonsubstantive change.'

Section 5443(b)(1) was changed from allowing 'a local governmental entity' to enter into a relocation agreement to allowing 'a governmental entity,' which broadens eligibility to potentially include state agencies in addition to cities and counties.

The fiscal committee vote was changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the bill now requires review by the Assembly Fiscal Committee, likely due to the compensation provisions for relocation or removal of advertising displays.

Assembly Members Pacheco and Blanca Rubio were added as coauthors of the bill.

Section 5441 language was cleaned up from the garbled 'Any An advertising display which is now, or hereafter becomes, that is in violation' to simply 'An advertising display that is in violation.' Section 5443(b)(2) removed the redundant phrase 'for any consideration' after 'without any additional consideration.'

The bill now amends Sections 5367, 5440, 5441, and 5443 of the Business and Professions Code in addition to Section 5270, expanding from a single nonsubstantive fix to a comprehensive overhaul of landscaped freeway advertising rules.

Section 5443 expands who can enter into relocation agreements from only local governmental entities to any governmental entity, and broadens the permitted purposes from those in Section 5412 to 'any purpose.'

Section 5367 now prohibits Caltrans from denying or delaying not just the acceptance but also the review, processing, or determination of a permit application for a new display along a new highway alignment, if the road is open to public travel within 1,000 feet.

A new provision allows a relocated advertising display to be converted to or replaced with a message center under a relocation agreement, with Caltrans required to issue a permit without additional consideration and without requiring compensation payment.

Relocated displays must not result in a net increase in the number of displays adjacent to landscaped freeway segments statewide, and must comply with all provisions of Articles 6 and 7 of the Outdoor Advertising Act.

Section 5440 replaces 'landscaping' with 'landscaped vegetation, including but not limited to trees,' broadening what qualifies as a landscaped freeway segment where advertising displays are prohibited.

A new fee provision allows Caltrans to charge up to $500 for conducting a classification review of whether a freeway section meets the landscaped vegetation criteria.

Section 5441 changes enforcement from removal only to 'relocation or removal, with payment of compensation' under Sections 5412 and 5443, giving sign owners a relocation option instead of forced removal without pay.

The fiscal committee designation changed from 'no' to 'yes,' reflecting new fiscal impacts from the fee provision and compensation requirements.