A JOINT RESOLUTION designating the Detective Richard E. Ray Memorial Highway in Pike County.
Summary
HJR40 is a joint resolution directing the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to designate a specific stretch of Kentucky Route 1426 in Pike County as the "Detective Richard E. Ray Memorial Highway." The named roadway runs from the Letcher County line to its intersection with U.S. Route 23, and the Cabinet must erect appropriate signs within 30 days after the resolution takes effect.
The resolution is primarily commemorative. Its findings recount Richard E. Ray’s life, family, and long career in law enforcement, including service as a Kentucky State Police trooper and detective and later as a Pike County Sheriff’s Department detective. The bill does not create a new regulatory program or alter criminal, transportation, or local government policy beyond the highway naming and signage directive.
Impact
The bill would affect state transportation signage and official highway naming in Pike County by requiring the Transportation Cabinet to recognize a portion of KY 1426 as a memorial highway. It does not amend existing statutes in a substantive policy area, but it does impose a ministerial duty on the Cabinet to install signs and formally record the designation, which may influence maps, road markers, and public references to the route.
Sentiment
The available text suggests strong positive sentiment and bipartisan ceremonial support, as the resolution honors a deceased public servant with a lengthy record of law enforcement service. There are no committee transcripts or recorded votes indicating opposition, and the bill’s tone is entirely laudatory, emphasizing respect, sacrifice, and community appreciation for Detective Ray’s career.
Contention
No notable policy contention is evident from the materials provided. Because the measure is a memorial highway designation rather than a substantive law change, any disagreement would likely be limited to routine questions about roadway naming, signage costs, or the appropriateness of the honoree, but none are reflected in the bill text, votes, or committee records supplied.