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HJR 40

A JOINT RESOLUTION designating the Detective Richard E. Ray Memorial Highway in Pike County.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by John Blanton

Designates a segment of KY 1426 in Pike County as the Detective Richard E. Ray Memorial Highway and requires signage within 30 days of the bill becoming law.

to Transportation (H)
#honoraryhighwaydesignations #memorials
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Bill Summary · HJR 40

Purpose and intent

  • Designates a segment of Kentucky Route 1426 in Pike County as the “Detective Richard E. Ray Memorial Highway.”
  • Honors the life and career of Richard E. Ray, a longtime law enforcement officer who served as a trooper/detective with the Kentucky State Police and later as a detective for the Pike County Sheriff’s Department.

Key provisions and changes

  • Section designation: The bill designates KY 1426, from the Letcher County line (mile point 0) to its intersection with US Route 23 (mile point 4.889), as the “Detective Richard E. Ray Memorial Highway.”
  • Signage requirement: Within 30 days of the bill’s effective date, the Transportation Cabinet must erect appropriate signs indicating this designation.

Who/what is affected

  • Infrastructure: A specific stretch of KY 1426 in Pike County will receive a commemorative designation.
  • Government responsibility: The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is obligated to install the commemorative signage within 30 days of the bill’s effective date.
  • Community impact: Local residents, law enforcement personnel, and visitors will see the memorial designation along this highway segment.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction and committee path: Introduced in the Kentucky House on January 22, 2026; referred to Committee on Committees.
  • Action history indicates progression to the Transportation Committee (H) for consideration.
  • Implementation timeline: If enacted, signage must be erected within 30 days after the bill takes effect.

Additional context

  • The bill provides a biographical summary of Detective Richard E. Ray, highlighting a 55-year career in law enforcement, notable respect from colleagues, and his passing on December 27, 2024, at age 86.
  • Overall effect is ceremonial recognition aimed at honoring a public servant and memorializing his contributions through highway nomenclature.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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