This bill amends RSA 664:17 to require the consent of the closest abutting property owner before political advertisements can be placed on public property adjacent to their land. It stipulates that no political advertising shall be affixed to public property, including highway rights-of-way, without the owner's consent. Additionally, it allows private citizens whose property abuts public property to remove or take down political advertisements that do not have their consent. The bill also specifies that political advertisements must be removed by the candidate no later than the second Friday following the election, unless the advertisement pertains to a winning primary candidate.

Key insertions in the bill include the requirement for consent from the "property owner who is the closest abutter" and the provision that the "nearest abutter who did not give consent" may remove or cover the advertisement. Furthermore, it allows the nearest abutter who objects to a political advertisement to cover it or place it flat on the ground, provided they attach a copy of the relevant section of the law and their identification. The bill also clarifies that political advertising removed by state, city, or town personnel prior to election day will be stored for retrieval by the candidate or their campaign. The act is set to take effect 60 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 664:17