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HJR 39

A JOINT RESOLUTION designating the Sons of Bardstown Memorial Highway in Nelson County.

2025 Regular Session

Designates a Nelson County bypass as the “Sons of Bardstown Memorial Highway” and requires signage within 30 days of effect or completion.

to Transportation (H)
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Bill Summary · HJR 39

Summary — HJR 39: “Sons of Bardstown Memorial Highway” (Nelson County)

Status: Referred to Transportation (House)
Introduced: August 25, 2025
Type: Joint resolution (honorary highway designation)

Purpose / Intent

HJR 39 designates a new bypass in Nelson County, Kentucky, as the “Sons of Bardstown Memorial Highway” to honor the Sons of Bardstown (Battery C, 138th Field Artillery, Kentucky’s Second Howitzer Battalion) for their military service during the Vietnam War and the sacrifices made by members and the Bardstown community.

Key provisions

  • Designation: Directs the Transportation Cabinet to name the new bypass connecting Kentucky Route 245 and U.S. Route 62 in Nelson County the “Sons of Bardstown Memorial Highway.”
  • Signage: Requires the Transportation Cabinet to erect appropriate signs that denote this designation within 30 days of the resolution’s effective date, or upon completion of construction of the highway (whichever is applicable).

Background included in the text

  • The resolution summarizes unit history: the Sons of Bardstown were called to active duty May 13, 1968, and served in Vietnam (participating in operations such as Nevada Eagle, Kentucky Jumper, and Richland Square).
  • It records combat losses, citing a June 19, 1969, attack at Firebase Tomahawk in which five members were killed (Luther Chappell, David Collins, Ronnie McIlvoy, Jim Moore, and Ronnie Simpson) and noting a total of 16 men from Bardstown lost during the Vietnam War.
  • It references local efforts (e.g., clothing donations to an orphanage near Hue) and community memorials.

Who is affected / impact

  • Direct effect: The Transportation Cabinet (responsible for installing and maintaining the signage).
  • Indirect effect: Residents, veterans, families of the Sons of Bardstown, travelers using the bypass, and the Bardstown community (symbolic recognition).
  • Legal/administrative: This is an honorary designation only; it does not change road maintenance responsibility, traffic rules, funding for construction, or create new regulatory requirements.

Timeline & procedure

  • The resolution must be adopted by the General Assembly. Once effective, the Transportation Cabinet has 30 days (or must wait until the bypass is completed) to install signage.
  • Current recorded status: Referred to the House Transportation Committee.

Fiscal considerations

  • Minimal and typically limited to the cost of design, production, and installation of signs. Those costs are generally borne by the Transportation Cabinet’s existing sign program; no appropriation is specified.

Note: The materials provided for this summary included unrelated text from a separate legislative resolution (an Illinois House Joint Resolution concerning autism/neurodiversity) and a mixed set of legislative action entries that appear to combine records from multiple bills and states. The summary above focuses solely on the Sons of Bardstown highway designation text identified as HJR 39.

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

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