Main Theme: This bill proposes the designation of a specific portion of State Route 47 in Darke County, Ohio, as the “PFC John Wayne Richard Memorial Highway.”
Most Important Ideas and Facts:
- Purpose of the Bill: The sole purpose of HB 50 is to officially name a segment of State Route 47 in honor of PFC (Private First Class) John Wayne Richard.
- The bill explicitly states: “To enact section 5533.106 of the Revised Code to designate a portion of State Route 47 in Darke County as the ‘PFC John Wayne Richard Memorial Highway.’”
- Specific Location: The designated portion of the highway includes both northbound and southbound lanes of State Route 47 within Darke County.
- The exact boundaries are defined as “between McGreevey road and Long road, in Darke county.”
- Official Naming: The bill mandates that this section of State Route 47 “shall be known as the ‘PFC John Wayne Richard Memorial Highway.’” This designation is intended to be in addition to any other existing names or designations for this stretch of road.
- The bill specifies: “In addition to any other name prescribed in the Revised Code or otherwise, the northbound and southbound lanes of state route number forty-seven between McGreevey road and Long road, in Darke county, shall be known as the ‘PFC John Wayne Richard Memorial Highway.’”
- Director of Transportation’s Role: The bill grants the Director of Transportation the authority to install appropriate signage to reflect the new designation.
- “The director of transportation may erect suitable markers along the highway indicating its name.” This provision leaves the design and placement of the markers to the discretion of the Director.
- Legislative Action: The bill is being introduced in the 136th General Assembly by Representative King, indicating the formal legislative process required for such a designation.
- The document clearly identifies itself as “As Introduced / 136th General Assembly / Regular Session H. B. No. 50 / 2025-2026 Representative King.”
Key Implications:
- Commemoration: The bill serves as a means to honor and remember PFC John Wayne Richard for his service or sacrifice, though the context of his service is not detailed within this particular document.
- Local Significance: This designation likely holds local significance for the residents of Darke County and potentially for the family and community of PFC John Wayne Richard.
- Administrative Action: Upon enactment, the Ohio Department of Transportation will be responsible for creating and installing the necessary signage.
Further Considerations (Not Explicitly in the Source):
- The bill does not provide any background information on PFC John Wayne Richard. Further research would be needed to understand the reasons for this proposed honor.
- The financial implications of creating and installing the memorial signage are not addressed in this introductory version of the bill.
- The process for selecting individuals for memorial highway designations and the level of local support for this specific designation are not detailed here.
This briefing document provides a summary of the key aspects of House Bill 50 as introduced. It highlights the legislative intent to honor PFC John Wayne Richard by naming a portion of State Route 47 in Darke County after him.