Bill > HB554

This bill clarifies and establishes comprehensive rules for political advertising placement and removal in municipal settings. Specifically, the legislation prohibits placing advertising on private property without owner consent and bans advertising on state-owned public property, with a narrow exception for rights-of-way placements that do not obstruct traffic or violate other laws. Political candidates are required to remove their advertising no later than the second Friday following an election, with an exception for primary election winners. The bill also strictly forbids placing signs on utility poles or highway signs, and makes it illegal for anyone other than property owners, authorized personnel, or law enforcement to remove, deface, or destroy political advertising. Additionally, if state, city, or town maintenance or law enforcement personnel remove political advertising before election day, they must store these materials in a designated location for up to one week after the election, allowing candidates or their campaign representatives to retrieve the items. The bill will take effect 60 days after its passage, providing a clear legal framework for managing political advertising on public and private properties.

Government Affairs

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_status.aspx?lsr=0804&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB554