CaliforniaCalifornia adds an arena ad approval route and exceptions for some existing signs
Starting in 2028, some large arenas may use a new route to exempt certain ads from most state sign rules, while limited exceptions also cover existing redevelopment project signs.
What it does
Starting in 2028, qualifying large arenas may use a new approval route to exempt certain ads from most state sign rules. Local approval, federal review, and limits on signs and content apply.
Certain signs already operating in former redevelopment projects may avoid specified state restrictions, but they must stay essentially as they were at the end of 2025 and still need a new permit.
Argument forSome signs already operating in redevelopment projects could stay in place under limited state exemptions, avoiding removal solely under the specified state restrictions.
Argument againstFederal review could delay some new arena signs, since they cannot be placed until state or federal officials find them consistent with federal rules.
More detail
Starting January 1, 2028, qualifying arenas may use a new route to exempt certain ads from most state outdoor advertising rules. The rules cover qualifying arenas and certain signs on or near them, including signs bearing the arena’s name or logo that can be seen from highways used to reach it. The arena must be able to host professional sports permanently, seat at least 15,000 people, and be built or under construction by January 1, 2027. Ads must promote goods or services sold, marketed, or promoted at the arena; tobacco, firearms, and sexually explicit material ads are barred. The new route requires local approval by January 1, 2032. On-premises signs need local rules covering their number, size, spacing, and lighting. For new-route signs approved after January 1, 2027, state or federal officials must find the sign consistent with federal law and agreements before it may be placed. No more than two signs may use the 2021 and new approval routes combined. A new-route sign approved after January 1, 2027, that is more than one mile from an arena must be at least 5,000 feet from a sign for another arena; this spacing rule does not cover signs approved under the 2021 route. An arena premises may include one existing Los Angeles public assembly building in the specified sign district if more than half its ground-floor area is within 1,000 feet of the arena. The building may have only one arena sign entirely beyond that distance, and federal law still applies. The exemption section becomes operative January 1, 2028. The arena must be built or under construction by January 1, 2027, and the new-route sign must be authorized by January 1, 2032.
Certain existing signs in former redevelopment project boundaries are exempt from specified state sign restrictions. The sign must be within an individual redevelopment project’s boundaries as they stood on December 29, 2011. The sign must have been operating by December 31, 2025, under a state tracking number for a sign already exempt under specified law. It must stay substantially in the same location and configuration as on that date. It cannot be expanded, moved, made taller or larger, or given extra display faces. It still requires a new permit and must meet other state requirements. It cannot conflict with federal law unless federal transportation officials authorize it. The sign must have been operating by December 31, 2025. Its location and configuration are measured against that date.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 27Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 686, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 27Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 10Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.To Governor
- Sep 1
- Vote recorded SB 1228 Rubio Senate Third Reading By Solache. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 31Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.Major
- Vote recorded W/O REF. TO FILE. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 31Unanimous consent granted to take up without reference to file.
- Aug 31In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
- Aug 31Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 7043.) Ordered to the Senate.Passed Assembly
- Aug 30Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 30From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 20. Noes 1.) (August 30).Minor
- Aug 30Joint Rule 62(a) suspended.
- Aug 28From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on G.O.Major
- Aug 26Re-referred to Com. on G.O. pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.2.Minor
- Aug 20Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 20Read third time and amended.Major
- Aug 6Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 5From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 5).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 30Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Jun 29From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 20. Noes 0.) (June 24).Major
- Jun 24
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- May 26Referred to Com. on G.O.Minor
- May 19In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.Minor
- May 18Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 4305.) Ordered to the Assembly.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 28Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Apr 27From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.Minor
- Apr 17Set for hearing April 27.
- Apr 15From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0. Page 3873.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 14
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 9Set for hearing April 14.
- Apr 8Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.Minor
- Mar 25From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.Major
- Mar 4Referred to Com. on RLS.Minor
- Feb 20From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 22.
- Feb 19Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.Introduced
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