Senate Transportation Committee hears first hearings on memorial highway namings and specialty license plates

The Ohio Senate Transportation Committee on Tuesday held first hearings on multiple measures to name memorial highways and create specialty license plates, receiving sponsor testimony but taking no formal votes on those items.

Senate Bill 251 would designate a portion of State Route 13 as the "Ohio State Highway Patrol Lieutenant Vance M. Andrews Memorial Highway," honoring Lieutenant Vance Andrews, who died in a traffic accident on State Route 13 in November 1945 at age 43. Senator Brenner provided sponsor testimony, saying the bill "would enshrine Lieutenant Andrews' legacy" and noting companion legislation in the Ohio House.

Senate Bill 229 would establish a law enforcement Purple Heart specialty license plate, allowing recipients of a law enforcement Purple Heart to apply for a designated plate. Senator Romanchuk said the measure was inspired by officers Dylan Bailey, Joshua Rivers and Lieutenant Jerome Barnhart, who responded to a hostage incident on Feb. 11; Romanchuk said Officer Dylan Bailey was shot three times while attempting to rescue hostages. The bill requires documented evidence of an award to obtain the plate and includes language prohibiting false claims to obtain the plate.

Senate Bill 228 would create a specialty plate to support LifeTown, an interactive learning center for children and teens with special needs in New Albany. Representative Craig said LifeTown serves "over 5,000" students each year from about 20 school districts across seven counties and corrected an earlier misstated size to 5,000 square feet. Craig said the plate would raise awareness and help sustain and expand the program.

House Bill 259, presented by Representative Daniel with joint sponsor Representative Romer, would designate a portion of State Route 241 in Summit County as "Captain Joshua Michael McClellan Memorial Highway." Daniel described McClellan as a nurse and soldier who was killed on April 22 while deployed to Afghanistan and said the designation would preserve his legacy for the community.

Senate Bill 282 would create an American Motorcyclists Association specialty license plate for noncommercial passenger vehicles and motorcycles, with a $15 contribution per plate directed to the association. Vice Chairman Schafer said the association is a local nonprofit based in Pickerington and that the plate would provide an avenue for members and supporters to contribute.

All of the measures above were presented in sponsor testimony and concluded their first hearings; committee members asked few substantive questions. No votes or formal committee referrals on these specific first hearings were recorded during the session.

The committee moved on to other agenda items after closing the first hearings on these bills.