Texas House Bill HB3339

Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Caption

Relating to removal of political advertising signs placed in a municipality; creating a criminal offense.

Impact

The enactment of HB3339 will establish clearer guidelines surrounding the management of political advertising signs in municipalities. By delineating the responsibilities of candidates and campaign treasurers regarding the timely removal of such signs, the bill seeks to promote aesthetic standards within local communities and ensure that election-related materials do not linger unnecessarily. This is especially relevant in the context of local elections where visual clutter can affect the perception of the municipality.

Summary

House Bill 3339 is a legislative measure that alters the regulations concerning political advertising signs within municipalities in Texas. Specifically, the bill mandates that any political advertising sign must be removed by the responsible party no later than 30 days following the last election to which the sign pertains. Failure to comply with this regulation results in the municipality removing the sign at the expense of the responsible party. The definition of a political advertising sign is provided, noting that it does not include bumper stickers.

Contention

While the bill's intent is to streamline the removal process of political signs, there may be concerns regarding the enforcement and implications of imposing a criminal offense for violations. As stipulated, a failure to remove signs can lead to a Class C misdemeanor, with financial penalties for offenders. This raises questions about the balance between maintaining community aesthetics and the potential for punitive measures that could disproportionately affect candidates or their campaign teams, especially in smaller municipalities with tight budgets.