Panel approves measure to centralize highway naming, require waiting period and limit signs

Representative Shallenberger told the House Transportation Standing Committee that HB 491 creates a structured process to handle a record number of highway-name requests (12 this year). The bill would align legislative practice with UDOT selection criteria, establish a six-member legislative committee (three senators, three house members) with minority-party representation, require a waiting period for naming (modeled on hall-of-fame rules, suggested five years), limit a single honorary name per highway section and cap name signage to two signs funded by the general fund or private donors.

Committee members raised how the bill would treat group designations (for example the Purple Heart Trail or Grand Army of the Republic). Shallenberger said the language can be modified to allow ‘‘individual or group’’ designations. Representative DeFe and others expressed support; UDOT representative Lee Felder said the agency supports the proposal because it would decrease sign proliferation and keep honorary designations meaningful.

House Amendment 2 (which incorporated Amendment 1) was offered and adopted unanimously. Representative Thurston moved that the committee favorably recommend the first substitute HB 491 as amended; with summations waived, the committee passed the bill out unanimously.

The committee advanced a bill that centralizes highway-naming requests and places constraints intended to reduce duplication and politicization of honorary road names.