Sec. 1. 23 MRSA §1913-A, sub-§1, ¶A, as enacted by PL 1981, c. 318, §3, is amended to read:

A. Signs of a duly constituted governmental body, a soil and water conservation district or, a regional planning district, an athletic facility that seats no fewer than 1,000 and a civic, conference or convention facility that seats no fewer than 3,000;

Sec. 2. 23 MRSA §1914, sub-§11-A, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 268, §3, is amended to read:

B. The display on each side of a changeable sign:

(1) May be changed no more than once every 20 minutes.__ This subparagraph does not apply to the signs listed in section 1913-A, subsection 1, paragraph A;

(2) Must change as rapidly as technologically practicable, with no phasing, rolling, scrolling, flashing or blending; and

(3) May consist only of alphabetic or numeric text on a plain background and may not include any graphic, pictorial or photographic images.

SUMMARY

This bill adds civic, conference, convention and athletic facilities to the list of organizations that can erect and maintain signs without having to obtain a license or permit. The bill also exempts these organizations from the 20-minute limit on changeable signs.