H.F. 76 Section 1. NEW SECTION . 716.13 Interference with a 1 political sign. 2 1. A person who takes, possesses, damages, or moves a 3 political sign without authorization from the owner and with 4 the intent to prevent, substantially alter, or substantially 5 obscure the communication of the political sign commits 6 interference with a political sign. For the purposes of this 7 section, “political sign” means a sign that includes express 8 advocacy as defined in section 68A.102. 9 2. a. For a first offense, a person who commits 10 interference with a political sign is guilty of a simple 11 misdemeanor. 12 b. For a second or subsequent offense, a person who commits 13 interference with a political sign is guilty of a serious 14 misdemeanor. 15 EXPLANATION 16 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 17 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 18 This bill relates to interference with political signs. The 19 bill creates the offense of “interference with a political 20 sign”, defined as the taking, possessing, damaging, or moving 21 of a political sign without the authorization of the owner 22 and with the intent to prevent, substantially alter, or 23 substantially obscure the communication of the political sign. 24 The bill defines “political sign” as a sign that includes 25 express advocacy as defined in Code chapter 68A. 26 For a first offense, a person who commits interference with 27 a political sign is guilty of a simple misdemeanor. A simple 28 misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than 30 29 days and a fine of at least $105 but not more than $855. For a 30 second or subsequent offense, a person who commits interference 31 with a political sign is guilty of a serious misdemeanor. A 32 serious misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more 33 than one year and a fine of at least $430 but not more than 34 $2,560. 35 -1- LSB 1078YH (2) 89 ss/jh 1/ 1