To enact section 5534.427 of the Revised Code to designate a portion of U.S. Route 33 in Auglaize County as the "Lt. James A. Kirkendall Memorial Highway."
Summary
HB51 is a simple highway designation bill. It enacts section 5534.427 of the Revised Code to name the eastbound and westbound lanes of U.S. Route 33 in Auglaize County, specifically the segment between County Road 191 and Boundary Road, as the "Lt. James A. Kirkendall Memorial Highway." The bill also authorizes the Ohio Director of Transportation to erect appropriate markers along the roadway identifying the memorial name.
The measure does not change traffic rules, funding formulas, or roadway ownership; it is a commemorative naming provision that adds a new memorial highway designation to Ohio law. Its legal effect is limited to the specified portion of U.S. Route 33 and to the state’s highway signage and designation statutes, with the new section becoming part of the Revised Code if enacted.
Impact
HB51 would add a new memorial highway designation to Ohio’s transportation code by creating Revised Code section 5534.427. The practical impact is limited to the installation of signs and the official recognition of a named segment of U.S. Route 33 in Auglaize County; it does not impose new obligations on drivers, local governments, or the Ohio Department of Transportation beyond the discretionary placement of markers.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been received very favorably and without controversy. It passed the House Transportation Committee unanimously, then passed the full House and Senate with unanimous or near-unanimous support in the recorded votes. The lack of committee testimony or recorded opposition suggests broad bipartisan agreement around the commemorative purpose of the measure.
Contention
There is no notable substantive contention reflected in the available record. Because the bill is a memorial highway designation, any discussion would likely have centered on honoring Lt. James A. Kirkendall and the appropriateness of the location chosen for the memorial, but no objections, amendments, or divided votes are shown in the provided materials. The unanimous votes indicate that legislators from both chambers supported the designation.