On January 26, legislation that proposes renaming sections of U.S. Route 1 in Virginia from the currently designated “Jefferson Davis Highway” to the “Emancipation Highway” advanced out of the House Transportation Committee on a vote of 13 to 5. HB 2075 (Cole, J.G.), which has a delayed enactment date of January 1, 2022, only applies to sections of the highway with the current designation of “Jefferson Davis Highway” and does not affect any other memorial designation applied to the highway. Localities, which have already changed the name of the highway or will do so before the enactment date either through local action, through successful petition to the Commonwealth Transportation Board, or through act of the General Assembly, will not be impacted.
VACo Contact: Jeremy R. Bennett