Assigned to ELEC AS VETOED
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
VETOED
AMENDED
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1025
political signs; tourism zones
Purpose
Prohibits the area of a municipality-designated commercial tourism, commercial resort and
hotel sign free zone (sign free tourism zone) from exceeding 10 percent of the total area of the
municipality and requires the sign free tourism zone to have a Reock score of .10 or more.
Background
Within 71 days before a primary election and 15 days after a general election, a city, town
or county may not remove, alter, deface or cover a political sign that: 1) is placed in a public
right-of-way owned by the jurisdiction; 2) supports or opposes a ballot measure or candidate for
office; 3) does not obstruct clear vision in the area; 4) is not hazardous to public safety; and
5) does not interfere with the requirements of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
The prohibition does not apply to a municipality-designated sign free tourism zone for which the
municipal governing body determines by resolution that, based on a predominance of commercial
tourism, resort and hotel uses, the placement of political signs will detract from the scenic and
aesthetic appeal of the area and deter the area's appeal to tourists. Municipalities may designate up
to two sign free tourism zones the total area of which may not be more than three square miles
(A.R.S. § 16-1019).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Prohibits the area of a sign free tourism zone from exceeding 10 percent of the total area of the
municipality.
2. Requires a sign free tourism zone to have a Reock score of at least .10.
3. Authorizes a municipality to establish areas within a sign free tourism zone in which political
signs are allowed and requires the municipality include the areas in the calculation of the area
of the sign free tourism zone.
4. Specifies that a Reock score is calculated by dividing the area of the sign free tourism zone by
the area of the smallest circle that may be drawn to enclose the entire zone.
5. Makes technical changes.
6. Becomes effective on the general effective date. FACT SHEET – Amended/Vetoed
S.B. 1025
Page 2
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
• Decreases, from .20 to .10, the required Reock score for a sign free tourism zone.
Governor's Veto Message
The Governor indicates in her veto message that it is unclear what problem S.B. 1025 aims
to solve and that Arizonans are not asking for more campaign signs in their communities.
Senate Action House Action
ELEC 1/23/23 DP 5-3-0 MOE 3/8/23 DP 5-4-0-1
3
rd
Read 2/28/23 18-10-2 3
rd
Read 5/15/23 31-27-1-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
May 22, 2023
AN/slp