Proposed Legislation to Rename Segment of I-35 in Austin

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Proposed highway sign location in Texas displaying new name

News Summary

Texas Representative Joanne Shofner has filed a bill to rename a section of Interstate 35 in Travis County to ‘President Donald J. Trump Highway.’ This proposal, HB 5503, will affect local communities and motorists, with mixed responses from residents. If passed, the new name will take effect on September 1, 2025. The bill has drawn attention due to Shofner’s connection to Trump, and similar proposals are emerging in other states. The community’s reaction and the legislative process will determine the future of this renaming.

Location of Proposal

The proposed legislation to rename a significant stretch of highway is centered in Austin, Texas. The piece of infrastructure in question is a portion of Interstate 35, which is a critical transportation corridor spanning multiple states.

What Happened

On March 18, 2025, Texas Representative Joanne Shofner (R-Nacogdoches) filed a bill known as HB 5503. This bill seeks to officially rename a segment of I-35 located in Travis County to the “President Donald J. Trump Highway.” The proposed legislation includes detailed plans for designing and constructing markers that would announce the highway’s new name. These markers are intended to be placed at both ends of the highway and at various points along the route.

If the bill is passed, it is set to come into effect on September 1, 2025.

Who Is Affected

The proposed name change affects local communities along the highway, as well as motorists who utilize this major route. I-35 is known for being the ninth longest highway in the United States, stretching a total of 1,568 miles from Laredo, Texas to Duluth, Minnesota.

The renaming plan has drawn mixed responses from local residents. Some individuals and business owners in the area view the change as unnecessary, while others may see it as an opportunity to honor a former president. Additionally, the highway currently holds multiple designations, including the Purple Heart Trail and various names used in different cities, such as PanAm Expressway in San Antonio and Jack Kultgen Freeway in Waco.

Official Response

Shofner’s bill has garnered attention, particularly due to her connection to former President Donald Trump, who endorsed her candidacy for Texas House District 11 in the previous election cycle that concluded on January 14, 2025. While Shofner is the primary sponsor of the bill, its future remains uncertain given that single-sponsor bills with high numbers (5000s) may face challenges in gaining traction in legislative discussions.

Regional and National Context

The movement to rename roadways in honor of Donald Trump is not limited to Texas. Similar proposals have emerged in other states, including Arizona, Missouri, Kentucky, and Florida. Currently, there are roads named after Trump in states such as Montana (Trump Drive) and Florida (Trump Avenue), as well as an existing President Donald J. Trump Highway in Oklahoma.

Impact

The implications of the renaming are still being evaluated. Supporters of such designations argue that they instill a sense of pride and recognition for Trump’s influence, while critics contend that it detracts from the original significance of the highways, which often have historical or cultural identities tied to their names. The public discourse surrounding this proposed change may shape future legislative endeavors related to commemorative naming across Texas and beyond.

What’s Next

As the legislative process unfolds, the fate of the bill rests within the Texas legislative chambers. If passed, the next steps would involve executing the design and installation of the new signage along the affected highway stretch. Observers will be watching closely to see how local officials and community members react as the deadline for the proposed change approaches.