COLUMBUS — A stretch of one of Ohio’s busiest interstates could soon carry a new name if legislation introduced at the Statehouse becomes law.
House Bill 638, introduced by State Rep. D.J. Swearingen (R-District 89) and State Rep. Jeff LaRe (R-District 73), would rename a section of Interstate 70 between mile markers 98 and 100 as the “President Donald Trump Freedom Highway.”
If passed, the bill would require the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to install “suitable markers along the highway” identifying the newly designated name.
The proposal is the latest in a series of efforts by Republican lawmakers to honor former President Donald Trump through state landmarks. In 2021, State Rep. Mike Loychik introduced legislation to rename Mosquito Lake Park as “Donald J. Trump State Park,” though that proposal did not advance.
Supporters of the current bill say the renaming would recognize Trump’s presidency and legacy, while critics are expected to raise questions about politicizing public infrastructure and the costs associated with signage.
House Bill 638 will now move through the legislative process, where it will be assigned to committee and considered for hearings before any vote is taken.
