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Committee approves naming 4.5-mile stretch in Mower County for fallen officer Jason B. Meyer
Summary
The Minnesota House Transportation Committee voted to send House File 1722 to Ways and Means to designate a portion of Highway 63 in Mower County as the Officer Jason B. Meyer Memorial Highway, following testimony from the officer's widow and support from local officials.
The Minnesota House Transportation Committee on March 10 approved sending House File 1722 to the Ways and Means Committee to name a stretch of state Highway 63 in Mower County the Officer Jason B. Meyer Memorial Highway.
Sarah Meyer Westfall, the widow of Officer Jason B. Meyer of the Grand Meadow Police Department, told the committee her husband died in the line of duty on Sept. 6, 1999, while responding to a suspicious-person call near Racine. She asked lawmakers to designate about a 4½-mile stretch from the city of Racine to the intersection of Highways 16 and 63 in his memory.
Meyer Westfall said she and others adopted a two-mile stretch of that highway after the crash and have maintained the roadside cleanup for more than two decades; she said this spring will mark their 26th year. She told the committee she has support from the Grand Meadow Police Department and the community for the naming.
Rep. Kim Hicks, appearing as a supporter, and Rep. Greg Davids, who sponsored the measure, urged colleagues to approve the request. No amendments were offered, and the committee moved the bill to Ways and Means by voice vote.
The committee record shows brief public praise from members for Meyer Westfall’s testimony. Rep. Berg thanked her for sharing her story and said he looked forward to supporting the measure. The bill’s authors confirmed that required funds for signage have been raised in accordance with state law.
Votes at a glance: the committee approved sending House File 1722 to the Committee on Ways and Means by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.
The measure now proceeds to the House Ways and Means Committee for further consideration.
Sources: Testimony by Sarah Meyer Westfall; remarks by Rep. Greg Davids and Rep. Kim Hicks during the Minnesota House Transportation Committee hearing on March 10, 2025.
