House Committee Recommends Against Bill for Highway Sponsorship Agreements

A House committee voted 13-1 against a bill allowing sponsorships for highway services, raising concerns over costs and competition.

House Committee Recommends Against Bill for Highway Sponsorship Agreements
House Committee Recommends Against Bill for Highway Sponsorship Agreements

Bismarck: So, there was this meeting where the House Transportation Committee voted 13-1 against a bill that would let private companies sponsor services along highways. Rep. Lisa Finley-DeVille was the only one against the recommendation.

The bill, known as House Bill 1054, aimed to let the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) partner with private entities for things like litter removal and rest area maintenance. Matt Linneman from the NDDOT said it could help manage highway upkeep without costing the state anything.

However, committee members wanted more info on how much money other states made from similar programs. They were curious about the potential savings and revenue from selling sponsorships. Linneman mentioned that the Federal Highway Administration allows these programs, but there were still doubts.

The idea was to have a vendor manage the sponsorships, which would help the NDDOT focus on more important tasks like fixing roads. But some folks, like Leo Ness from Newman Signs, were worried it could hurt local advertising businesses. He didn’t think it was right for the state to let out-of-state vendors compete on state land.

Others, like Jim Englund from Newman Outdoor Advertising, supported the idea of acknowledgment signs but were against using logos on them. They wanted to make sure it didn’t turn into a commercial advertising situation. It’s a tricky balance, and the committee is still weighing the pros and cons.

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