Local approval required before Department of Transportation may acquire easements for certain road projects.

HF 1977 requires local governments (cities, counties, or towns) to approve Department of Transportation (DOT) projects before easements can be acquired for certain road construction or maintenance work. Specifically, it mandates that local approval - either through a formal resolution by the local governing body or a majority vote in the next general election - must be obtained before DOT can use funds from specified sources to acquire land easements for "roadway project elements" (like road construction, resurfacing, or infrastructure improvements). The bill applies to projects on the trunk highway system and takes effect July 1, 2025. It directly affects how DOT coordinates with local communities on land access for road projects, without changing the DOT's authority to proceed on projects that do not involve roadway elements.