Bill > S1064

This bill revises laws governing outdoor advertising by establishing a 30-day timeframe for the Department of Transportation (DOT) to approve or deny permit applications for new outdoor advertising signs, with applications automatically approved if no decision is made within that period. It also prevents the DOT from revoking a permit for a first-time violation of outdoor advertising rules unless there's an immediate threat to public safety or fraud, and for subsequent violations, it requires written notice and a 60-day period to correct the issue before revocation. Furthermore, the bill mandates that any amendments to a specific agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation regarding the federal Highway Beautification Act of 1965 require prior approval from the General Assembly, and prohibits the DOT from delegating its permitting or enforcement authority to local governments, though cooperation with them is still allowed. The bill also significantly changes regulations for vegetation removal around outdoor advertising signs, replacing previous complex requirements with an annual vegetation maintenance permit costing $400, which allows for cutting, thinning, pruning, or removal of vegetation within designated zones without further application or fees, with exceptions for native dogwoods and certain larger trees, and also permits limited herbicide application along fence lines. Finally, it repeals all prior requirements for selective vegetation removal permits, caliper-inch fees, and replanting plans, consolidating them into this new annual permit process.