WeVote
Log In

Bill

WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 364

Summary of SB 364 (Ohio, 136th General Assembly)

Designate Cleveland Police Officer Jamieson Ritter Memorial Highway

Status: Passed Senate Transportation (as reported)
Action history: Introduced Feb 17, 2026; Referred to Senate Transportation Feb 18, 2026; Reported Mar 25, 2026; Passed Apr 15, 2026

1) Main purpose and intent

  • The bill designates a specific portion of a U.S. highway in Cleveland as a memorial to a local police officer.
  • Official designation: The portion of U.S. Route 322, running easterly and westerly, between East 40th Street and East 81st Street in Cleveland, shall be known as the “Cleveland Police Officer Jamieson Ritter Memorial Highway.”
  • The designation serves to honor Cleveland Police Officer Jamieson Ritter, who was killed in the line of duty on July 4, 2024, while attempting to arrest a suspect. Ritter served four years with the Cleveland Division of Police and was a member of the Ohio Army National Guard.

2) Key provisions and changes

  • Enactment of a new section: 5534.974 of the Revised Code.
  • Highway designation: The specified stretch of U.S. Route 322 in Cleveland (E. 40th St. to E. 81st St.) is memorialized as the Jamieson Ritter Memorial Highway.
  • Markers: The Director of Transportation is authorized to erect suitable markers along the designated highway to indicate its name.
  • Administrative authority: The bill grants the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and/or the City of Cleveland authority and responsibility to install the signs, with potential reimbursement to ODOT for production costs as appropriate for municipal boundaries.

3) Who or what would be affected

  • Geographic area: A segment of U.S. Route 322 within the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County.
  • Entity responsibilities:
    • City of Cleveland: Likely primary installation responsibility for memorial signs, with possible reimbursement to ODOT for production costs.
    • ODOT: Production of signs and potential initial installation, per standard practice; municipal settings may involve reimbursement.
  • Memorial messaging: Road users would encounter markers identifying the roadway as the Jamieson Ritter Memorial Highway.

4) Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Legislative action:
    • Introduced: February 17, 2026
    • Referred to Senate Transportation: February 18, 2026
    • Reported by Senate Transportation: March 25, 2026
    • Passed Senate (as of the provided record): April 15, 2026
  • Implementation timeline: The bill sets an ongoing designation; it does not specify a required start date beyond passage. Sign installation would follow normal procurement/installation processes for memorial markers, with typical sign production costs noted in fiscal analyses.

5) Fiscal note highlights (local impact)

  • Estimated cost for signs: Approximately $1,400 to produce and install memorial signs.
  • Sign replacement: Signs typically last 12–15 years, implying ongoing periodic costs for maintenance and replacement.
  • Local impact: The designation would require municipal action (City of Cleveland) for installation and potential reimbursement to ODOT for production costs; no statewide funding allocation is specified.

Bottom line

SB 364 designates a segment of U.S. Route 322 in Cleveland as the Cleveland Police Officer Jamieson Ritter Memorial Highway, with authority for the state and city to erect commemorative signage. The measure honors Officer Ritter and aligns with standard highway memorial designation practices, including nominal sign costs and maintenance considerations.

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

Sign in to ask a question.