HB 33

Enrolled Copy  H.B. 33
1Political Signs Amendments
  2026 GENERAL SESSION
  STATE OF UTAH
  Chief Sponsor: Jordan D. Teuscher
  Senate Sponsor: Evan J. Vickers
2
3  LONG TITLE
4  General Description:
5      This bill amends provisions related to political signs.
6  Highlighted Provisions:
7      This bill:
8      ▸ defines terms;
9      ▸ specifies the form and placement of the disclosure statement for political advertisements;
10      ▸ creates an exception to political advertising disclosure requirements for certain
11  candidate-paid political signs;
12      ▸ reduces the size dimensions of a political sign that is exempt from disclosing, on the sign,
13  the person who paid for the sign;
14      ▸ prohibits a person from:
15●   attaching a political sign to a utility pole, light pole, an electric utility box, a traffic
16  control device, or any railroad sign or signal; or
17●   affixing an object to a political sign for the purpose of blocking, concealing, or
18  misrepresenting the message or image on the political sign;
19      ▸ expands existing criminal penalties for defacing political signs to cover the conduct
20  described above, and specifies exceptions for:
21●   a person who removes a political sign that does not contain the disclosure described
22  above;
23●   a person who removes a political sign that violates the prohibition on electioneering in
24  or near a polling place;
25●   a government employee who removes a political sign in the course of the government
26  employee's duties;
27●   a person who removes an object that blocks or conceals a political sign; or
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28●   a person who removes a political sign that is attached to a utility pole, light pole, an
29   electric utility box, a traffic control device, or any railroad sign or signal;
30▸ requires each county and municipality to designate one or more locations where a person
31   who removes a political sign may deposit the political sign for safekeeping or disposal;
32▸ requires a person who removes a political sign under specified circumstances to deposit
33   the sign at a designated location described above;
34▸ for a county or municipality that receives a political sign, requires the county or
35   municipality to:
36●   contact the owner of the political sign; and
37●   notify the owner to take possession of the political sign;
38▸ authorizes a county or municipality to, in certain circumstances:
39●   dispose of a political sign; and
40●   seek reimbursement from the owner of the political sign for the sign's safekeeping or
41   disposal;
42▸ prohibits a county or municipality from prohibiting a property owner or lawful occupant
43   of property adjacent to a park strip from posting a political sign on the park strip; and
44▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
45   Money Appropriated in this Bill:
46None
47   Other Special Clauses:
48This bill provides a special effective date.
49   Utah Code Sections Affected:
50   AMENDS:
5120A-11-901 (Effective 01/01/27), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapter 18
5220A-17-102 (Effective 05/06/26), as enacted by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapter 238
5320A-17-103 (Effective 05/06/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 15
54   ENACTS:
5520A-17-101.5 (Effective 05/06/26), Utah Code Annotated 1953
5620A-17-104 (Effective 05/06/26), Utah Code Annotated 1953
57
58   Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
59Section 1. Section 20A-11-901 is amended to read:
6020A-11-901 (Effective 01/01/27). Political advertisements -- Requirement that
61   ads designate responsibility and authorization -- Report to lieutenant governor --
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62  Unauthorized use of endorsements.
63  (1)(a) Whenever any person makes an expenditure for the purpose of financing an
64      advertisement expressly advocating for the election or defeat of a clearly identified
65      candidate, or solicits any contribution through any broadcasting station, newspaper,
66      magazine, outdoor advertising facility, direct mailing, or any other type of general
67      public political advertising, the advertisement:
68(i) if paid for and authorized by a candidate or the candidate's campaign committee,
69shall clearly state that the advertisement has been paid for by the candidate or the
70campaign committee;
71(ii) if paid for by another person but authorized by a candidate or the candidate's
72campaign committee, shall clearly state who paid for the advertisement and that
73the candidate or the campaign committee authorized the advertisement; or
74(iii) if not authorized by a candidate or a candidate's campaign committee, shall
75clearly state the name of the person who paid for the advertisement and state that
76the advertisement is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
77  (2)(a) A person that makes an expenditure for the purpose of financing an advertisement
78      related to a ballot proposition shall ensure that the advertisement complies with
79      Subsection (2)(b) if the advertisement expressly advocates:
80(i) for placing a ballot proposition on the ballot;
81(ii) for keeping a ballot proposition off the ballot;
82(iii) that a voter refrain from voting on a ballot proposition; or
83(iv) that a voter vote for or against a ballot proposition.
84      (b) An advertisement described in Subsection (2)(a) shall:
85(i) if paid for by a political issues committee, clearly state that the advertisement was
86paid for by the political issues committee;
87(ii) if paid for by another person but authorized by a political issues committee,
88clearly state who paid for the advertisement and that the political issues committee
89authorized the advertisement; or
90(iii) if not authorized by a political issues committee, clearly state the name of the
91person who paid for the advertisement and state that the advertisement is not
92authorized by any political issues committee.
93  (3) The disclosure statement described in Subsections (1) and (2) shall:
94      (a) clearly and conspicuously identify for the reader, observer, or listener the person who
95paid for the advertisement and, where required, the authorization related to the
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96advertisement; and
97(b) if the advertisement is a billboard or outdoor advertising facility, include text that is
98large enough to be easily readable by an ordinary observer at a reasonable distance
99from which the advertisement is intended to be viewed.
100   [(3)] (4) The requirements of Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to:
101(a) [lawn signs with dimensions of four by eight feet or smaller] an advertisement that is
102a political sign, as that term is defined in Section 20A-17-101.5, that:
103(i) is less than 24 by 18 inches; or
104(ii)(A) is paid for and authorized by a candidate or the candidate's campaign
105committee; and
106(B) clearly and conspicuously identifies that candidate by name;
107(b) bumper stickers;
108(c) campaign pins, buttons, and pens; or
109(d) similar small items upon which the [disclaimer] disclosure statement cannot be
110conveniently printed.
111   [(4)] (5)(a) A person who is not a reporting entity and pays for an electioneering
112communication shall file a report with the lieutenant governor within 24 hours of
113making the payment or entering into a contract to make the payment.
114(b) The report shall include:
115(i) the name and address of the person described in Subsection [(4)(a)] (5)(a);
116(ii) the name and address of each person contributing at least $100 to the person
117described in Subsection [(4)(a)] (5)(a) for the purpose of disseminating the
118electioneering communication;
119(iii) the amount spent on the electioneering communication;
120(iv) the name of the identified referenced candidate; and
121(v) the medium used to disseminate the electioneering communication.
122   [(5)] (6) A person may not, in order to promote the success of any candidate for nomination
123or election to any public office, or in connection with any question submitted to the
124voters, include or cause to be included the name of any person as endorser or supporter
125in any political advertisement, circular, poster, or publication without the express
126consent of that person.
127   [(6)] (7)(a) It is unlawful for a person to pay the owner, editor, publisher, or agent of any
128newspaper or other periodical to induce the owner, editor, publisher, or agent to
129advocate or oppose editorially any candidate for nomination or election.
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130      (b) It is unlawful for any owner, editor, publisher, or agent to accept any payment to
131advocate or oppose editorially any candidate for nomination or election.
132Section 2. Section 20A-17-101.5 is enacted to read:
13320A-17-101.5 (Effective 05/06/26). Definitions.
134     As used in this chapter:
135  (1) "Contact information" means:
136      (a) as it relates to a candidate for public office or the candidate's personal campaign
137committee:
138(i) the address and telephone number for the candidate that the candidate designates
139on a declaration of candidacy as the address and telephone number where the
140candidate may be contacted to receive official election notices; or
141(ii) if the address or telephone number described in Subsection (1)(a)(i) is a protected
142record under Section 63G-2-305, the alternative address or telephone number that
143the candidate filing the declaration of candidacy provides to the election officer;
144and
145      (b) as it relates to a filing entity other than a filing entity who is a candidate for public
146office, the name, address, and telephone number of an officer for the filing entity that
147the filing entity provides to the lieutenant governor in a statement of organization or
148financial statement filed under Chapter 11, Campaign and Financial Reporting
149Requirements.
150  (2) "Filing entity" means the same as that term is defined in Section 20A-11-101.
151  (3) "Local government entity" means:
152      (a) a county, municipality, or other political subdivision;
153      (b) a special district, as defined in Section 17B-1-102;
154      (c) a special service district, as defined in Section 17D-1-102;
155      (d) a local building authority, as defined in Section 17D-2-102;
156      (e) a conservation district, as defined in Section 17D-3-102;
157      (f) an independent entity, as defined in Section 63E-1-102;
158      (g) a public corporation, as defined in Section 63E-1-102;
159      (h) a public transit district, organized under Title 17B, Chapter 2a, Part 8, Public Transit
160District Act;
161      (i) a school district;
162      (j) a public school, including a charter school or other publicly funded school;
163      (k) a state institution of higher education;
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164(l) an entity that expends public funds; and
165(m) each office, agency, or other division of an entity described in Subsections (3)(a)
166through (l).
167   (4) "Park strip" means the area of land located between a roadway and an adjacent sidewalk.
168   (5) "Political sign" means any sign that advocates:
169(a) the election or defeat of a candidate for public office; or
170(b) the approval or defeat of a ballot proposition.
171   (6)(a) "Public property" means any real property, building, or structure owned or leased
172by a local government entity.
173(b) "Public property" does not include any real property, building, or structure during a
174period of time that the real property, building, or structure is rented out by a
175government entity to a private party for a meeting, convention, or similar event.
176   (7) "Railroad sign or signal" means the same as that term is defined in Section 41-6a-102.
177   (8)(a) "Roadway" means:
178(i) a state highway, as described in Section 72-3-102;
179(ii) a county road, as described in Section 72-3-103;
180(iii) a city street, as described in Section 72-3-104;
181(iv) a class D road, as described in Section 72-3-105; or
182(v) a rail-based fixed guideway operated by a large public transit district.
183(b) "Roadway" includes:
184(i) the right-of-way for a roadway; and
185(ii) infrastructure appurtenant to a roadway that is owned, maintained, or controlled
186by:
187(A) a county or municipality;
188(B) a large public transit district organized under Title 17B, Chapter 2a, Part 8,
189Public Transit District Act; or
190(C) the Department of Transportation created in Title 72, Chapter 1, Part 2,
191Department of Transportation.
192   (9) "Sign owner" means a person who owns a political sign and, under Subsection
19320A-11-901(1) or (2), is required to include a disclosure statement on the political sign.
194Section 3. Section 20A-17-102 is amended to read:
19520A-17-102 (Effective 05/06/26). Political signs -- Prohibition on vandalism --
196   Exceptions.
197   [(1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), a person is guilty of a class B misdemeanor if the
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198      person knowingly removes, alters, defaces, or otherwise vandalizes a sign:]
199      [(a) advocating the election or defeat of a candidate for public office; or]
200      [(b) advocating the approval or defeat of a ballot proposition.]
201  (1) Except as provided in Subsection (3) or (5), a person is guilty of a class B misdemeanor
202      if the person knowingly:
203      (a) removes, disposes of, alters, defaces, or otherwise vandalizes a political sign; or
204      (b) attaches or affixes any object to a political sign, including another political sign, and
205the object:
206(i) hides, blocks, obscures, or otherwise substantially conceals from view the
207message or image on the political sign; or
208(ii) changes or misrepresents the intent of the message on the political sign.
209  (2) A person is guilty of an infraction if the person knowingly attaches or affixes a political
210      sign to a utility pole, light pole, an electric utility box, a traffic control device, or any
211      railroad sign or signal.
212  [(2)] (3) A person is not guilty of a violation of Subsection (1) if the person who engages in
213      the conduct described in Subsection (1) is:
214      (a) [as it relates to a sign described in Subsection (1)(a), the candidate or an agent of the
215candidate] the sign owner;
216      (b) [as it relates to a sign described in Subsection (1)(b), ]the person who placed the
217political sign, the person who directed the placement of the political sign, or an agent
218of either;
219      (c) a property owner of property or of a right-of-way adjacent to property on which the
220political sign is placed, or the property owner's agent; or
221      (d) a public official [who removes the sign in accordance with an official duty of the
222public official] or government employee who removes the political sign in accordance
223with the duties of the public official or government employee.
224  (4) A sign owner that posts or displays a political sign on a roadway shall ensure that the
225      political sign is removed from the roadway no later than 14 calendar days after the day
226      of the election to which the political sign relates.
227  (5) Notwithstanding Subsection (1)(a), any person may:
228      (a) in response to another person engaging in the conduct described in Subsection (1)(b),
229remove the object that is attached or affixed to the political sign;
230      (b) in response to another person engaging in the conduct described in Subsection (2),
231remove the political sign that is attached or affixed to a utility pole, light pole, an
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232electric utility box, a traffic control device, or any railroad sign or signal;
233(c) remove a political sign that is posted or displayed on a roadway for longer than the
234time period described in Subsection (4); or
235(d) remove a political sign because:
236(i)(A) the size dimensions of the political sign are equal to or greater than the size
237dimensions described in Subsection 20A-11-901(4)(a); and
238(B) the political sign does not contain the disclosure statement described in
239Subsection 20A-11-901(1) or (2); or
240(ii) the political sign is posted or displayed in a location that violates the prohibition
241against electioneering described in Subsection 20A-3a-501(2)(a)(i).
242   (6) A person who removes a political sign under Subsection (3)(d) or (5)(d) shall deposit
243the political sign at a location described in Subsection 20A-17-104(1).
244   (7) Nothing in this section limits the prosecution or sentencing of a person who, while
245removing a political sign or an object attached or affixed to a political sign under
246Subsection (3) or (5), commits an offense under Title 76, Utah Criminal Code.
247Section 4. Section 20A-17-103 is amended to read:
24820A-17-103 (Effective 05/06/26). Posting political signs on public property.
249   [(1) As used in this section:]
250[(a) "Local government entity" means:]
251[(i) a county, municipality, or other political subdivision;]
252[(ii) a special district, as defined in Section 17B-1-102;]
253[(iii) a special service district, as defined in Section 17D-1-102;]
254[(iv) a local building authority, as defined in Section 17D-2-102;]
255[(v) a conservation district, as defined in Section 17D-3-102;]
256[(vi) an independent entity, as defined in Section 63E-1-102;]
257[(vii) a public corporation, as defined in Section 63E-1-102;]
258[(viii) a public transit district, organized under Title 17B, Chapter 2a, Part 8, Public
259Transit District Act;]
260[(ix) a school district;]
261[(x) a public school, including a charter school or other publicly funded school;]
262[(xi) a state institution of higher education;]
263[(xii) an entity that expends public funds; and]
264[(xiii) each office, agency, or other division of an entity described in Subsections
265(1)(a)(i) through (xii).]
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266      [(b) "Political sign" means any sign or document that advocates:]
267[(i) the election or defeat of a candidate for public office; or]
268[(ii) the approval or defeat of a ballot proposition.]
269      [(c)(i) "Public property" means any real property, building, or structure owned or
270leased by a local government entity.]
271[(ii) "Public property" does not include any real property, building, or structure
272during a period of time that the real property, building, or structure is rented out
273by a government entity to a private party for a meeting, convention, or similar
274event.]
275  [(2)] (1) A local government entity, a local government officer, a local government
276      employee, or another person with authority or control over public property that posts or
277      permits a person to post a political sign on public property:
278      (a) shall permit any other person to post a political sign on the public property, subject to
279the same requirements and restrictions imposed on all other political signs permitted
280to be posted on the public property; and
281      (b) may not impose a requirement or restriction on the posting of a political sign if the
282requirement or restriction is not politically neutral and content neutral.
283  (2) A local government entity may not prohibit a person from posting a political sign on a
284      park strip if the person:
285      (a)(i) is the owner or lawful occupant of property that is adjacent to the park strip; and
286(ii) is required by a local ordinance or an agreement to maintain the park strip; or
287      (b) obtains consent to post the political sign from the person described in Subsection
288(2)(a).
289  (3) Nothing in this section prohibits a local government entity from regulating the posting
290      of a political sign under this section to prevent a traffic, pedestrian, or line-of-sight
291      hazard.
292Section 5. Section 20A-17-104 is enacted to read:
29320A-17-104 (Effective 05/06/26). Safeguarding and disposing of political signs --
294  County and municipal locations -- Reimbursement from sign owner.
295  (1) Each county and each municipality shall designate one or more locations within the
296      county or municipality where an individual who removes a political sign under
297      Subsection 20A-17-102(3)(d) or (5)(d) may deposit the political sign for safekeeping or
298      disposal in accordance with this section.
299  (2) Subject to Subsection (3), and except as provided in Subsection (4), a county or
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300municipality that receives a political sign at a location described in Subsection (1) shall:
301(a) safeguard the political sign;
302(b) use reasonable efforts to obtain contact information for the sign owner:
303(i) from the election officer for the election to which the political sign relates, if the
304sign owner is a candidate for public office or the candidate's personal campaign
305committee;
306(ii) from the lieutenant governor, if the sign owner is a filing entity other than a filing
307entity who is a candidate for public office or the candidate's personal campaign
308committee; or
309(iii) using any other lawful means available to the county or municipality;
310(c) make a reasonable attempt to contact the sign owner by telephone; and
311(d) notify the sign owner, either during a direct conversation or in a voicemail, that the
312sign owner has five business days after the date of the notice to take possession of the
313political sign.
314   (3) If a sign owner receives the notice described in Subsection (2)(d) but does not take
315possession of the political sign by the deadline described in Subsection (2)(d), or, if a
316county or municipality is unable to contact a sign owner under Subsection (2)(c), the
317county or municipality may:
318(a) dispose of the political sign; and
319(b) seek reimbursement from the sign owner in accordance with Subsection (5) for the
320cost of safekeeping or disposing of the political sign, if, during the same election
321cycle:
322(i) the county or municipality has, on three or more previous occasions, received a
323political sign belonging to the same sign owner at a location described in
324Subsection (1); and
325(ii) on each occasion:
326(A) the sign owner did not take possession of the political sign after receiving the
327notice described in Subsection (2)(d); or
328(B) the county or municipality was unable to contact the sign owner under
329Subsection (2)(c).
330   (4) A county or municipality that receives a political sign at a location described in
331Subsection (1) may dispose of the political sign if the county or municipality:
332(a) cannot identify the sign owner; or
333(b) cannot obtain contact information for the sign owner under Subsection (2)(b).
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334  (5)(a) A county or municipality that seeks reimbursement under Subsection (3)(b) shall
335      mail a reimbursement notice to the sign owner using the contact information that the
336      county or municipality obtains under Subsection (2)(b).
337      (b) A reimbursement notice shall include:
338(i) the number of political signs safeguarded or disposed of by the county or
339municipality;
340(ii) subject to Subsection (5)(c), the reimbursement amount; and
341(iii) any other information deemed relevant by the county or municipality to obtain
342reimbursement for safeguarding or disposing of the political sign.
343      (c) The reimbursement amount that a county or municipality may seek for a political
344sign deposited at a location described in Subsection (1) may not exceed $20 per
345deposit incident, regardless of the number of political signs belonging to the same
346sign owner that are included in that deposit.
347  (6)(a) Subject to Subsection (6)(b), a sign owner that receives a reimbursement notice
348      under Subsection (5) shall pay the amount specified in the notice no later than 30
349      calendar days after the day on which the reimbursement notice is received in the mail.
350      (b) A county or municipality shall provide the sign owner a reasonable opportunity to
351establish, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the payment of reimbursement is
352not required.
353  (7) A sign owner that receives a reimbursement notice under this section may use campaign
354      funds to pay the reimbursement amount specified in the notice.
355Section 6. Effective Date.
356  (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), this bill takes effect May 6, 2026.
357  (2) The actions affecting Section 20A-11-901 (Effective 01/01/27) take effect on January
358      1, 2027.
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