HB 292: Political Signs Amendments - Utah

Amended 2/18/2025 16:02:449 → Substitute #1 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah's political sign and advertisement laws to clarify disclosure requirements, reduce the size exemption for lawn signs from 4x8 feet to 24x18 inches, and create new criminal penalties for attaching signs to utility poles or blocking sign messages. The changes aim to increase transparency in political advertising and prevent obstruction of political messaging while allowing government employees to remove signs as part of their duties.

Scope change

The bill expands enforcement mechanisms by creating specific criminal offenses for unauthorized sign placement and obstruction, while adding exemptions for government employees performing official duties and for individuals removing obstructing objects or improperly placed signs.

REQUIREMENT

Reduced the lawn sign exemption size from 4x8 feet to 24x18 inches for political advertisements that must disclose campaign finance information

ENFORCEMENT

Created a class B misdemeanor for attaching political signs to utility poles, light poles, electric utility boxes, or road signs

Created a class B misdemeanor for affixing objects to political signs that block, conceal, or misrepresent the sign's message or image

Created a class C misdemeanor for attaching political signs to utility poles, light poles, electric utility boxes, or road signs

ELIGIBILITY

Added exceptions allowing government employees to remove political signs as part of their official duties without committing a criminal offense

Added exceptions allowing any person to remove lawn signs, objects blocking signs, or signs improperly attached to utility infrastructure

DEFINITION

Clarified the definition of political sign to include documents advocating for ballot propositions

Amended Excerpts 2/18/2025 16:02:449 → Amended 2/18/2025 16:02:449 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah's political sign and advertisement laws by reducing the size exemption for lawn signs from 4x8 feet to 24x18 inches, adding new prohibitions against attaching political signs to utility poles or blocking sign messages, and creating criminal penalties for violations while establishing exceptions for government employees performing their duties.

Scope change

The bill expands enforcement scope by adding specific prohibited conduct (attaching signs to utility poles, blocking sign messages) and modifies the scope of exempt lawn signs to smaller dimensions.

REQUIREMENT

Reduced lawn sign exemption size from 4x8 feet to 24x18 inches for political advertisements that must disclose campaign finance information

Prohibits attaching political signs to utility poles, light poles, electric utility boxes, or road signs

Prohibits affixing objects to political signs to block, conceal, or misrepresent the message or image

ENFORCEMENT

Creates a criminal offense for violating the new prohibitions on political sign placement and modification

Creates exceptions for government employees removing political signs as part of their duties

Provides immunity from criminal offense for persons who remove prohibited objects, lawn signs, or signs attached to utility poles

TECHNICAL

Updated formatting and organizational structure of the bill text

Introduced → Amended Excerpts 2/18/2025 16:02:449 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah's political sign laws to reduce the size exemption for lawn signs from 4x8 feet to 24x18 inches, clarifies that attaching signs to utility poles is now a misdemeanor rather than an infraction, and creates specific exemptions for candidates and property owners when removing signs.

Scope change

The bill narrows the exemption for lawn signs from larger dimensions to smaller ones, meaning more signs will require disclosure statements. It also modifies the penalty for attaching signs to utility poles from an infraction to a misdemeanor.

REQUIREMENT

Reduced the size exemption for lawn signs from 4x8 feet to 24x18 inches, requiring more signs to include disclosure statements

ENFORCEMENT

Changed the penalty for attaching political signs to utility poles from an infraction to a class C misdemeanor

ELIGIBILITY

Added specific exemptions allowing candidates, their agents, and property owners to remove political signs without committing a violation

DEFINITION

Clarified the definition of political signs to include documents advocating for ballot propositions

Political Signs Amendments

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