03/26/2004 08:06 AM Senate JUD

           HB 230-POLITICAL SIGNS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR.  TODD LARKIN,  staff to  Representative Holm,  sponsor of  HB
, told members  that in the state's zeal to  hold onto federal                                                               
funds,  it  has set  restrictions  on  free speech,  specifically                                                               
political free  speech in the  form of signage.  After conferring                                                               
with  the Federal  Highways  Administration, Representative  Holm                                                               
believes the state  has gone farther than  necessary. The current                                                               
restriction  in  Alaska took  the  form  of the  federal  highway                                                               
beautification  act,  which  requires an  advertising  free  zone                                                               
between a  roadway right-of-way  and 660  feet. He  suggested the                                                               
state  could   make  some   exceptions,  especially   on  private                                                               
property,  without  endangering  federal highway  funds.  HB  230                                                               
would  allow   the  Department   of  Transportation   and  Public                                                               
Facilities  (DOTPF)  to  allow  landowners  to  advocate  for  or                                                               
against  political  candidates or  issues  but  not to  advertise                                                               
commercially.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  SEEKINS  announced  he  would carry  HB  230  forward  and                                                               
schedule it expeditiously. He then  adjourned the meeting at 9:56                                                               
a.m.                                                                                                                            
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