Oklahoma Route 66 Commission becomes law after legislature overrides governor’s veto

The Oklahoma Route 66 Commission became law Friday after the state legislature overwhelmingly overrode the governor’s veto on the measure.

House Bill 4457, which promises millions in annual funding for the preservation and development of Route 66 through mid-2027 through the commission, initially had passed by a 72-6 vote in the state House and 39-6 in the state Senate during the regular session.

Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed the bill on Thursday, describing it as duplicative, reported The Daily Oklahoman newspaper.

The Legislature the next day overrode his veto by a 79-6 vote in the House and 41-7 in the Senate, according to LegiScan that follows bill activity, and the measure was filed with the secretary of state’s office. The Enid News & Eagle newspaper reported many of Stitt’s fellow Republican lawmakers were irked by several of his vetoes, including of the Route 66 bill.

The Oklahoma Route 66 Commission will consider and approve projects to maximize the long-term economic potential of Route 66 in Oklahoma before the highway’s centennial in 2026.

The bill also creates the Oklahoma Route 66 Commission Revolving Fund, which will designate monies to approved projects for the purpose of preserving and developing Route 66. The fund may receive up to $6.6 million per year. 

The commission would consist of nine members:

• One member each appointed by the governor, Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Oklahoma Tourism;
• Three appointed by the Oklahoma Senate’s president pro tempore who is a citizen of a county where Route 66 traverses, a municipal official from a Route 66 town with a population of more than 10,000 and “an Oklahoma citizen with expertise or experience in historic preservation”;
• Three appointed by the Oklahoma House speaker who is a citizen of a county where Route 66 traverses, a Route 66 business owner in a town of fewer than 10,000 people and “an Oklahoma citizen with expertise or experience in marketing.”

The law takes effect July 1. The commission would remain through mid-2027.

The Oklahoma Route 66 Association stated:

The Oklahoma Route 66 Association does have representation on the Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission and we will stay engaged as this new Commission is put together. We are all working towards a common goal and are excited to see what opportunities this new development will bring to the Mother Road.

(Image of an Oklahoma Route 66 sign in Chandler, Oklahoma, by scott.tanis via Flickr)