HR1706: HR1706 Jerry Barnes Memorial Highway; Pickens County; dedicate

This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives honors the life of Jerry Barnes, a longtime resident of the Hinton community in Pickens County, Georgia. It recounts his work with youth agricultural programs, his role as a founding member of the Hinton Volunteer Fire Department, his service as a Pickens County Commissioner, and his involvement with local civic and church organizations. The operative part of the resolution dedicates the section of State Route 53 running from a quarter mile east of its intersection with State Route 136 Connector to Arrowhead Way in Pickens County as the Jerry Barnes Memorial Highway. It directs the Georgia Department of Transportation to put up and maintain signs marking the dedication, and it directs the Clerk of the House to send copies of the resolution to Barnes' family and to the Department of Transportation.

• Dedicates the portion of State Route 53 from a quarter mile east of the State Route 136 Connector intersection to Arrowhead Way in Pickens County as the Jerry Barnes Memorial Highway.
• Directs the Georgia Department of Transportation to erect and maintain signs marking the highway dedication.
• Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to distribute copies of the resolution to Barnes' family and the Department of Transportation.
• Recites biographical background honoring Barnes' community service, including his roles with the Hinton Volunteer Fire Department and as a Pickens County Commissioner.

The resolution most directly affects the Georgia Department of Transportation, which must install and maintain the new highway signage, and residents and travelers in Pickens County who use that stretch of State Route 53. It also formally recognizes Jerry Barnes' family.

While largely ceremonial, the resolution creates a lasting public marker of a local figure's community service and requires state action, since the Department of Transportation must actually put up signage identifying the road by its new memorial name.

• The resolution's whereas clauses describe Jerry Barnes' life, including his youth agricultural mentorship, founding role in the Hinton Volunteer Fire Department, and service as Pickens County Commissioner.
• The first resolving clause dedicates the specified section of State Route 53 in Pickens County as the Jerry Barnes Memorial Highway.
• A further resolving clause authorizes and directs the Department of Transportation to erect and maintain signs for the dedication.
• A final resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to Barnes' family and the Department of Transportation.

1. 2026-03-19House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-03-18House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-16House Hopper (House)

• Rick Jasperse (R, HD-011)Primary sponsor

• highway dedication
• Pickens County
• memorial resolution
• Department of Transportation