Ohio lawmakers may have been on winter break, but that doesn’t stop them from filing up-to-date bills for consideration during the current legislative session ending in December 2026.
Republican state representatives DJ Swearingen (R-Huron) and Jeff LaRe (R-Violet Township) introduced HB 638 December 23. If passed, the bill would stand for “President Donald Trump’s Freedom Highway.”
The up-to-date name will impact the eastbound and westbound lanes of Interstate 70 from mile marker 98 to mile marker 100 in Franklin County. The bill would also require up-to-date signs to indicate the up-to-date name.
The bill provides no explanation of President Trump’s connection to freedom.
HB 638 has not yet been assigned to a committee.
Hours after his January 20 inauguration, President Donald Trump signed two executive orders that could decimate transgender Americans’ access to health care, basic legal protections, federal IDs and more. Then in February, Trump issued an executive order barring transgender women from participating in women’s sports at any institution that receives federal funding.
Most recently, the Trump administration announced plans to end protections for trans and intersex people from rape in prisons AND prohibit hospitals providing gender-affirming care to youth under 18 from receiving Medicaid and Medicare funds.
Many attempts
HB 638 is the latest bill in a slew of attempts by Ohio Republicans to honor President Trump.
In 2021 and again in 2024, Republican lawmakers introduced a bill to rename Mosquito Lake State Park in northeast Ohio to Donald J. Trump State Park. Lawmakers have never scheduled a hearing on either bill.
In 2021, Republican lawmakers attempted to designate Trump’s birthday – June 14 – as President Donald J. Trump Day. Rep. Reggie Stoltzfus testified that “it was necessary to set aside one day to celebrate one of the greatest presidents in American history.” The bill did not pass beyond the State and Local Government Committee.
In 2018, Republican lawmakers introduced a resolution calling on the Norwegian Nobel Committee to award the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize to President Donald Trump. This act has not been considered.🔥
