HB3257 would amend the Highway Advertising Control Act of 1971 and the Illinois Highway Code to authorize the Illinois Department of Transportation to place tourist-oriented directional signs at intersections in rural areas along rural non-freeways. The bill specifically excludes locations that pass through urban areas with populations of 7,000 or more. In practical terms, it creates a new statutory basis for roadside signage intended to help travelers find tourist destinations in less-populated parts of the state.
The measure is narrow in scope and does not change broader transportation policy or highway construction rules. Instead, it adds two new provisions—one in the advertising/signage law and one in the highway code—so that IDOT may permit these signs under state law. The bill appears aimed at supporting tourism access and wayfinding in rural communities, likely benefiting local attractions, businesses, and destinations that rely on passing traffic.
Impact
HB3257 would create new authority for IDOT to post tourist-oriented directional signs in rural areas on rural non-freeways, while excluding urban areas with populations of 7,000 or more. It would amend both the Highway Advertising Control Act of 1971 and the Illinois Highway Code by adding new sections, thereby expanding the state’s legal framework for roadside tourism signage and affecting how local tourist destinations can be advertised to motorists.
Sentiment
There is no recorded committee testimony or vote history available for HB3257, so no direct public sentiment can be measured from the provided materials. Based on the bill’s text and caption, the proposal appears administrative and supportive of rural tourism, with no obvious controversial policy shift in the available record.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided transcripts or voting history. Potential areas of debate, if any, would likely center on whether the population cutoff of 7,000 is the right threshold, how broadly rural signage should be allowed, and whether additional directional signs could affect roadside clutter or signage regulation. However, none of these concerns are reflected in the available bill history.
A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 39-13-09 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to regulation of tourist-oriented directional signs.