Relating To Outdoor Advertising Devices And Billboards.
Impact
If enacted, SB4 would standardize the definitions of 'billboards' and 'outdoor advertising devices,' which contributes to the regulation of these components at the county level. By refining the legal language, the bill could facilitate clearer enforcement of existing licensing requirements. Additionally, it underscores the need for counties to adhere to regulated standards concerning outdoor advertisements, which in turn may influence planning and zoning decisions related to billboard placements and advertising structures. This bill's passage may also serve to mitigate misunderstandings among businesses that rely on outdoor advertising for promotion.
Summary
SB4, introduced in the 32nd Legislature of Hawaii in 2023, specifically addresses outdoor advertising devices and billboards. The primary intent of this bill is to clarify and update definitions related to these devices as stipulated in part V of chapter 445 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, which governs county licenses for outdoor advertising. This legislative action stems from the recognition that while many amendments may be technical, some require thorough independent consideration due to their substantive nature. Thus, SB4 aims to ensure that the definitions are precise and comprehensible to avoid any ambiguity in application.
Contention
While no substantial points of contention are highlighted in the current documentation of SB4, similar legislative efforts in the past have often encountered concern among local advocacy groups. Such groups have previously argued that regulations should accommodate diverse community needs including aesthetic considerations and public safety. The precise impact of this bill on those facets of local governance remains to be seen, as communities may still have differing opinions on outdoor advertising and its implications on the environment and public spaces.
Requires that any billboard advertisement that promotes tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, vapor products, alcoholic beverages or gambling or sports wagering services shall be removed exactly upon the last day of the advertising contract for such billboard advertisement and replaced with a public service announcement about the health harms of the same product which was removed.