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