A JOINT RESOLUTION designating the Jean Ritchie Memorial Highway in Perry County.
Summary
SJR11 is a joint resolution directing the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to designate a seven-mile portion of Kentucky Route 7 in Perry County, from mile point 1 to mile point 7, as the “Jean Ritchie Memorial Highway.” The resolution also requires the Cabinet to erect appropriate signage within 30 days of the resolution’s effective date.
The bill is primarily commemorative and does not create a new regulatory program or alter substantive rights. Its purpose is to honor Jean Ritchie, a Perry County native and nationally recognized folk musician, songwriter, collector of traditional Appalachian songs, and promoter of the mountain dulcimer. The resolution includes an extensive recitation of her life, career, and cultural contributions as the basis for the highway naming.
Impact
The resolution affects state transportation signage and highway designation practices by requiring the Transportation Cabinet to mark a specific segment of Kentucky Route 7 with memorial signage. It does not amend the Kentucky Revised Statutes in a substantive way, but it does impose an administrative duty on the Cabinet to install signs and formally recognize the roadway segment as a memorial highway.
Sentiment
The available context suggests broadly positive and noncontroversial sentiment. Because the measure is a memorial designation honoring a well-known Kentucky cultural figure, it appears to be the kind of resolution that typically receives support as a tribute to state heritage and local identity. No committee debate, recorded votes, or opposition are provided in the available materials.
Contention
No notable points of contention are evident in the text or context provided. The only practical consideration is the implementation burden on the Transportation Cabinet to place signage, but the resolution sets a limited and straightforward requirement. There is no indication of disagreement over the honoree, the route segment selected, or the cost or administrative impact of the designation.