The Utah House of Representatives on Feb. 18 passed first substitute House Bill 292, political sign amendments, after an amendment that changed a Class C misdemeanor to an infraction passed and the full bill passed on a 69-0 vote.

Sponsor Representative Tesher said the bill clarifies that someone who attaches or affixes any object to another person’s political sign in a manner that hides, blocks, obscures or misrepresents the sign’s message would be violating state law. "If you're gonna put something on someone else's sign, that's not allowed," Representative Tesher said.

The bill also requires a disclosure statement identifying who paid for a lawn sign larger than 24 by 18 inches and moves several municipal prohibitions—such as attaching signs to utility poles, light poles, electric utility boxes or road signsinto state code so they are clear statewide. Tesher said the change aligns state code with municipal codes and the federal election practices printing firms commonly follow.

In floor debate Representative McPherson asked whether language in other sections that remained Class B misdemeanors would be affected; Tesher clarified those provisions remain unchanged. Representative Dunnegan asked how much overlap is permitted; Tesher said a corner overlap that does not "substantially conceal" a sign would not violate the new rule but attaching something that "hides blocks or substantially conceals" it would.

An amendment offered by the sponsor on line 115 of the bill struck the words "a class C misdemeanor" and replaced them with "an infraction." The chamber approved that amendment by voice vote. The bill as amended then passed the House on a recorded vote of 69 yes, 0 no and will be sent to the Senate for consideration.

Votes at a glance: the amendment replacing the misdemeanor with an infraction passed by voice vote; final passage of first substitute HB 292: 69-0.

The measure makes several practical changes for enforcement: any person may remedy a noncompliant sign (for example removing an affixed sticker), candidates or property owners may remove signs on their property, and government employees may remove signs that pose safety risks (Representative Tesher gave a UDOT safety example). The bill preserves existing Class B misdemeanor language in a separate section (line 100), Tesher said.

The House clerk recorded final passage and announced the bill will be transmitted to the Senate for its consideration.