To enact section 5534.102 of the Revised Code to designate a portion of U.S. Route 22 in Harrison County as the "Staff Sergeant Melvin Trushel, Sr. Memorial Highway."
Summary
HB384 is a roadway naming bill. It enacts a new section of the Ohio Revised Code to designate the eastbound and westbound lanes of U.S. Route 22 between mile markers 19 and 22 in Harrison County as the "Staff Sergeant Melvin Trushel, Sr. Memorial Highway." The bill also authorizes the Ohio Department of Transportation to erect appropriate markers along the designated stretch of highway.
The measure does not change traffic rules, funding formulas, or local government authority; its legal effect is limited to adding an honorary name to a specific segment of state highway. Like other memorial highway designations, it creates a formal state-recognized commemoration in the Revised Code and may prompt ODOT signage installation and related administrative action.
Impact
HB384 would amend Ohio law by adding section 5534.102 to the Revised Code, creating an honorary designation for a portion of U.S. Route 22 in Harrison County. The practical impact is limited to signage and official recognition; it does not alter roadway ownership, maintenance responsibilities, or transportation policy, but it does direct the Ohio Department of Transportation to place markers if it chooses to do so.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests the bill was broadly supported and noncontroversial. It received a unanimous favorable recommendation in the House Transportation Committee and then passed the House 91-0, indicating strong bipartisan agreement and little to no opposition in the recorded proceedings. No committee transcript is available, but the vote totals point to a routine commemorative measure with positive sentiment.
Contention
There is no recorded substantive contention in the provided materials. Because the bill is a memorial highway designation, any discussion would likely center on the appropriateness of honoring Staff Sergeant Melvin Trushel, Sr. and the specific location chosen in Harrison County, but no objections or competing viewpoints are documented in the available committee or floor records.