A bill has been introduced in the Oklahoma Legislature that would end the expiration date of the Oklahoma Route 66 Commission and create a revolving loan fund for the highway.
State Rep. Mark Lawson (R-Sapulpa), who also is House Majority Leader, introduced House Bill 1571 for the legislature’s 60th session.
He also wrote the bill that established the Oklahoma Route 66 Commission in 2019.
The commission originally was scheduled to sunset on June 30, 2027, after Route 66’s centennial in 2026. Lawson’s bill removes that sunset date entirely.
The bill also authorizes an Oklahoma Route 66 Commission Revolving Fund “for the purpose of preserving and developing Route 66 and commemorating the Route 66 Centennial.”
The bill’s language does not state an amount for the fund.
The state already has awarded nearly $13 million for various Route 66 projects in the Sooner State, with more to come before the centennial.
The prospects of Lawson’s new bill remain unknown. But the fact the author is the state’s Majority Leader indicates it will have a better chance of passage than most.
The Oklahoma Legislature’s session ends on May 30.
(Image of an Oklahoma Route 66 sign by Infinite Ache via Flickr)