Memorials, Recognition - Larry Bushart -

HJR 870 is a commemorative resolution honoring Larry Bushart, a retired Henderson County police officer, for his defense of free speech. It recognizes his arrest and 37-day jail stay (due to a $2 million bond) after posting a pre-existing political meme on social media, which led to false charges of threatening school violence before all charges were dismissed. The resolution symbolically commends Bushart for upholding his First Amendment rights while acknowledging the personal impact of his wrongful arrest, including job loss and missed family events. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or policies.