Assigned to TAT FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2586
ADOT dynamic message signs
Purpose
Restricts the Arizona Department of Transportation's (ADOT) dynamic message signs
(DMSs) to display only messages that are directly related to transportation or highway public
safety and outlines exceptions.
Background
Directional or other official signs or notices that are required or authorized by law may be
placed or maintained along an interstate, secondary or primary system within 660 feet of the edge
of the right-of-way. These signs or notices must conform with the standards contained in rules
adopted by the Director of ADOT and national standards promulgated by the U.S. Secretary of
Transportation (A.R.S. ยง 28-7902; A.A.C. R17-3-701).
A changeable message sign (CMS) is a traffic control device that is capable of displaying
one or more alternative messages. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal
Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), a CMS must
display only traffic operational, regulatory, warning and guidance information, except state and
local highway agencies may display safety, transportation-related, emergency homeland security
and amber alert messages. A CMS must comply with MUTCD requirements, including: 1) the
display format may not be similar to an advertising display or include animation, rapid flashing,
dissolving, exploding, scrolling or other dynamic elements; 2) a message must be centered within
each line of the legend and may consist of up to two phases; 3) each phase may consist of up to
three lines of text and must be understood by itself regardless of the sequence in which it is read;
and 4) if more than one CMS is visible to road users, then only one CMS may display a sequential
message at any given time, except as outlined (MUTCD).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires ADOT to display only messages on a DMS that are directly related to transportation
or highway public safety.
2. Excludes, from the message requirement, reminders to vote and amber, silver and blue alerts.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
FACT SHEET
H.B. 2586
Page 2
House Action
TI 2/17/23 DP 7-4-0-1
3
rd
Read 3/1/23 31-28-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 9, 2023
KJA/CB/sr