Bonus Law

In 1958, Congress passed outdoor advertising control legislation commonly known as the “Bonus Act,” P.L. 85-381, as part of the Federal-Aid Highway Act.

The Bonus Act provided an incentive to states to control outdoor advertising within 660 feet of the Interstate Highway System. States volunteering for the program would receive a bonus of one-half of one percent of the federal-aid highway construction costs on segments of Interstate highways controlling outdoor advertising.

In 1965, this statute was replaced by the Highway Beautification Act. Reference to the Bonus Program is found in the United States Code [23 U.S.C. 131 (j)]. Bonus Program regulations promulgated by the Federal Highway Administration are found at 23 C.F.R. 750, Subpart A. Its provisions still exist via agreements with the states.

Issue Brief