00                      CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 230(STA)                                                                    
01 "An Act relating to political signs on private property."                                                               
02 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
03    * Section 1.  AS 19.25.075 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:                                          
04            (c)  The Alaska State Legislature finds that                                                                 
05                 (1)  the right to advocate for or against those individuals who would                                   
06       occupy public office and issues of public interest is an inherent right that has been                             
07       repeatedly affirmed by the courts; and                                                                            
08                 (2)  the right to advocate for or against those individuals who would                                   
09       occupy public office and issues of public interest must be subject to only the minimum                            
10       of restrictions necessary to address a compelling public or government interest.                                  
11    * Sec. 2.  AS 19.25.105(a) is amended to read:                                                                     
12            (a)  Outdoor advertising may not be erected or maintained within 660 feet of                                 
13       the nearest edge of the right-of-way and visible from the main-traveled way of the                                
14       interstate, primary, or secondary highways in this state except the following:                                    
15                 (1)  directional and other official signs and notices that [WHICH]                                  

01       include, but are not limited to, signs and notices pertaining to natural wonders, scenic                          
02       and historic attractions, that [WHICH] are required or authorized by law, and that                        
03       [WHICH SHALL] conform to federal standards for interstate and primary systems;                                    
04                 (2)  signs, displays, and devices advertising the sale or lease of property                             
05       upon which they are located or advertising activities conducted on the property;                                  
06                 (3)  signs determined by the state, subject to concurrence of the United                                
07       States Department of Transportation, to be landmark signs, including signs on farm                                
08       structures, or natural surfaces, of historic or artistic significance, the preservation of                        
09       which would be consistent with the provisions of this chapter;                                                    
10                 (4)  directional signs and notices pertaining to schools;                                               
11                 (5)  advertising on bus benches or bus shelters, and adjacent trash                                     
12       receptacles, if the state determines that the advertising conforms to local, state, and                           
13       federal standards for interstate and primary highways; [.]                                                    
14                 (6)  political noncommercial signs on private property if                                           
15                      (A)  individual or conjoined signs do not exceed 32 square                                     
16            feet total per side;                                                                                     
17                      (B)  the signs do not interfere with, obstruct, confuse, or                                    
18            mislead traffic or pose a traffic hazard; and                                                            
19                      (C)  the signs are consistent with regulations adopted by the                                  
20            department regarding the time and manner for removal of signs that do                                    
21            not have current relevance;  in this subparagraph,                                                       
22                           (i)  "current relevance" means the subject matter of                                      
23                 a sign is a matter of ongoing public consideration by the public and                                
24                 the date of decision on the subject matter of the sign has not                                      
25                 passed;                                                                                             
26                           (ii)  "date of decision" means the date on which a                                        
27                 decision on the subject matter of a sign is no longer subject to                                    
28                 influence by public opinion, such as the date of an election for                                    
29                 public office or on a ballot measure, action by the governor on a                                   
30                 bill passed by the legislature, formal settlement or formal                                         
31                 conclusion of an armed conflict, conclusion of contract                                             

01                 negotiations, or similar matters for which a date of decision may be                                
02                 ascertained [REPEALED].