Committee approves memorial highway designation for Medal of Honor recipient Laverne Parish

The Senate Transportation Committee approved an amendment and gave a do‑pass recommendation to Senate Bill 392, which designates a segment of U.S. 93 north of Ronan as the Laverne Parish Memorial Highway.

Sponsor Senator Greg Hertz described Laverne Parish, a Ronan native and World War II Medal of Honor recipient, and asked the committee to honor him with the signage and memorial designation. Community members and former teammates testified in support; proponents said Parish’s actions merit long‑term recognition and described local memorials already dedicated to his service.

The committee adopted an amendment that changed the end mile marker to avoid overlap with an existing memorial highway; the amendment replaced mile marker 53 with mile marker 51 in the bill language. Senator Logie moved the amendment; the committee approved the change by voice vote. After the amendment, Senator Logie moved the do‑pass motion for the bill as amended and the committee adopted the do‑pass recommendation on a voice vote.

Committee staff from the Department of Transportation indicated the fiscal impact is minimal — signage and administrative costs were estimated in the fiscal note at roughly $3,300 — and provided a route map to the committee. No opponents testified and committee members noted community support and local vetting before the motion.

Ending note: SB 392 was amended to narrow the milepost range and carried out of committee with a do‑pass recommendation; department staff will coordinate signage and placement.