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HF 53

A bill for an act relating to the president Donald J. Trump highway, and including applicability provisions.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Skyler Wheeler

The bill designates a portion of US 75 as the “President Donald J. Trump Highway” and allows private, not public, funding to install signs along that corridor.

Introduced, referred to Transportation.
#highways
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HF 53

HF 53 — Summary

Overview

HF 53 is a bill introduced on January 14, 2025, and referred to the Transportation committee. The bill designates a segment of United States Highway 75 as the “President Donald J. Trump Highway” and establishes a private-funding process for installing official-looking signs indicating the designation. The designation would apply to the specified corridor regardless of any later changes to the highway’s federal designation.

  • Primary sponsor: Wheeler
  • Topic: Highways
  • Status: Introduced, referred to Transportation

Key Provisions

1) Designation
- Section 1 designates United States Highway 75, the portion crossing the state from Sioux City to the Minnesota border north of Rock Rapids, as the “President Donald J. Trump Highway.”

2) Signage Rules and Process
- The Department of Transportation (DOT) must adopt rules (pursuant to Chapter 17A) to establish an application, approval, and inspection process for signs indicating the designated name.
- Private entities may submit applications to purchase and install signs bearing the designation.
- The DOT will approve applications that meet its rule requirements.
- All costs and expenses for purchasing and installing the signs must be paid by the private entity whose application is approved.
- The DOT may approve more than one application.

3) Applicability
- Section 2 states the Act applies to the specified US Highway 75 corridor on its effective date and continues to apply to that highway thereafter, even if the federal designation of the highway changes in the future.

Signage Process and Standards (as established by the bill)

  • Application: Private entities submit an application to place signs recognizing the designation.
  • Review/Approval: DOT reviews applications against its forthcoming rules and approves those that meet criteria.
  • Inspection: DOT rules will include an inspection component for installed signs.
  • Funding: Only private funds may be used to purchase and install the signs; no public funds are described as available through this act.
  • Multiple Signs: DOT may approve more than one private application for signage.

Who is Affected

  • Private entities interested in funding and installing designation signs along the designated stretch of US-75.
  • The Minnesota-Sioux City corridor travelers and residents along the designated route who will encounter the new signs.
  • The Department of Transportation (DOT), which would implement the rulemaking and oversee approvals and inspections.

Procedural and Timeline Notes

  • Effective date: The act’s applicability starts on its own effective date (to be determined by enactment).
  • Rulemaking: DOT must issue rules under Chapter 17A to govern the application, approval, and inspection process.
  • Legislative status: Introduced and referred to Transportation; no further action details provided in the text available.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • Public funding: The bill explicitly restricts costs to private entities, avoiding state funding for signage.
  • Designation vs. federal designation: The designation pertains to the highway corridor even if the U.S. designation of the route changes later.
  • Sign standards: Specific sign design, size, and placement standards would be determined by the DOT’s future rules.
  • Local impact: Could influence roadside aesthetics and local perceptions along a long interstate/US highway corridor.

This summary provides the bill’s core intent, provisions, and potential implications based on the introduced text.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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