MN House Passes Bill Renaming Twin Cities Highway After Prince

ST. PAUL, MN — The Minnesota House on Friday passed a measure renaming a stretch of Highway 5 in Chanhassen the "Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway." The bill also specifies the signs designating this highway must be purple in color.

Prince, a Minnesota native who pioneered the "Minneapolis sound" genre, died on April 21, 2016, of a drug overdose. He was 57.

"Prince brought people together not only through his music, but through his advocacy of public library access, education, civil rights, and more," said Rep. Lucy Rehm, a Democrat from Chanhassen, after her bill passed the House Transportation Committee.

"It’s a tremendous privilege to work with Minnesotans and all the advocates to recognize and honor Prince’s contributions to our state, our country, and the world."

Prince lived and recorded music at his Chanhassen home — Paisley Park — for nearly 30 years. Paisley Park is now open to the public and welcomes fans for tours, concerts, festivals, and other special events.

The next stop for the bill is the Minnesota Senate, which is expected to take up and pass the bill.