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Senate panel advances bills to name stretches of highway for Melissa Hortman and Ariel Schroeder Jr.
Summary
The Minnesota Senate Transportation Committee recommended floor passage of two bills to name stretches of state highway in honor of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and first responder Ariel Schroeder Jr.; families and colleagues described their public service and said non‑state sources will cover signage costs.
Senate transportation committee members on March 9 recommended that two separate bills be forwarded to the Senate floor to name state highway segments in honor of public officials and a first responder.
Senator Scott Huffman introduced Senate File 4073 to designate a 13‑mile stretch of Trunk Highway 610 the Hart Memorial Highway in memory of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman. "She was tenacious, incredibly smart and an incredible partner to having the legislature," Huffman said, urging the committee to "honor her memory and legacy" with the designation. Fiscal staff noted that typical costs for signage are paid by non‑state sources and that the fiscal note shows a $4,000 expenditure offset by $4,000 in revenue, resulting in a net $0 cost to the state for signage in this case.
Senator Drazkowski presented Senate File 3640 to name roughly 1.4 miles of Minnesota Highway 58 the "Officer Firefighter Gary L. Schroeder Junior Memorial Highway." Gary Schroeder Sr., joined by his wife Susan, described his son Ariel Jr.'s service as a police officer and volunteer firefighter and said Ariel died on April 17, 2023, after developing post‑traumatic stress disorder related to his service. "He was well respected and actively engaged in this community," Schroeder said, and the family indicated they would cover related sign costs.
The committee moved both bills forward by voice vote. For the highway‑designation bills, senators noted these are symbolic honors intended to recognize public service and to keep memories alive. The committee chair said the measure concerning Speaker Hortman will probably proceed as a stand‑alone item to the Senate floor after fiscal staff and counsel finalize language.
What happens next: Both bills were recommended for the floor and will advance through the Senate process for final consideration. The committee flagged any remaining fiscal language for staff to clarify before floor action.
