John Hodgson

State Representative

District 36 Newsletter

Aug 2026

Greetings!

Happy State Fair Month!

August will be steamy, but I am looking forward to spending several days at our great State Fair! The South Wing is always a cool, shady place to eat your corndog. Hope to see you there!

A number of KY Legislators attended the ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Conference) with me in July, where we learned about great things other states are doing, and steal their ideas. We got good education on Election Integrity, Data Privacy, Data Center controversies, Criminal law and liability, strategies to combat Chinese interference in the US, and Education Choice successes in Florida helping 150,000 kids to achieve more with their education.

I need your input - send me a note and tell me what you would really like to see us work on in 2027. Only about 15-20% of bills get passed every year, and I start very early trying to build a coalition to get things done. Your input is valuable. I have gotten some good feedback already.

Over the next few months, I will recap legislation we passed in the 2026 session.

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Watch live internet video of the session, committees, and task forces on this KET link.

My 6 assignments are:

• Elections & Constitutional Amendments Committee (Vice Chair)
• State Government Committee
• Transportation Committee
• Small Business and IT Committee
• Information Technology Oversight Committee
• Air Mobility and Aviation Economic Development Task Force

I welcome your input and perspective on legislative issues (online form here).

My office number is 351D in the Capitol Annex.

Office phone is 502-564-8100.

State email is John.Hodgson@KYLegislature.gov

I will do my best to answer your questions and consider your input on District 36 issues if you would like to contact me.

District 36 Road & Traffic Plans

Johnson Road KY1531... the never ending story?

1) Hopefully, by the time you read this, the closure in the middle of Johnson Road will be over. It was due to a developer being required to put a 2nd entrance on the Overlook, and they had to drop the roadway 2 feet and move some utilities to have safe sight-lines for traffic. Annoying, but necessary, but also poorly communicated to the community by the Developer and KYTC.

KYTC has begun a detailed engineering plan on the long term fix for Johnson Rd. - about a $12 million fix.

2) Work continues on the new intersection at Gilliland and US60, targeting early 2027 completion. [Ultimately, we hope to re-route the end of Johnson to connect at the future light at the new intersection. But that will be in future Road Budgets ]

3) There is a Metro project to put a roundabout at Aiken and Arnold Palmer, which is planned to start after Johnson Rd reopens, to allow for detour traffic. Metro is targeting year end completion.

I guess we should be happy some of these road problems are getting resolved, but it would be just great if the Mayor-appointed Metro Planning Commission would mandate road fixes BEFORE approving new development. I have been beating that drum for years.

Make sure your Metro Council rep knows your thoughts on the issue (I talk to mine often), so they can encourage the mayor to put some real planners on the Planning Commission.

We are always working on legislative incentives to do more new moderate-cost housing development inside the Watterson, where there is plenty of road infrastructure, but finding little interest on the part of developers.

Here is a recap of our approved 2027/8 Road budget for District 36, the first 3 are fully funded for completion. #4-13 are our long range plan that will require future funds.

1. US 60 at Gilliland Road/Eastwood project: previously funded, in work, for completion 2026/7
2. KY1819/Billtown Rd Reconstruction project: previously funded, in work, for completion 2026
3. Widen KY155 (Taylorsville Road) from I265 to the Fisherville intersection - $23,760,000 funded in new budget, for completion 2026-28 ------------- Projects past this line cannot be completed without more budget in future years
4. Extend Plantside Drive from Rehl Road to Taylorsville road by I-265 light - $11,000,000 in new budget, need $13,000,000 project funding in next budget for 2031 completion
5. Widen US60 (Shelbyville Road) to 6 lanes from Old Shelbyville Rd to North English Station $500,000 funded for Design in new budget, need $6,000,000 in next budget for completion 2030-31
6. Reconstruct KY 1531 (Johnson Rd) to make it wider with smoother curves - need $12,000,000 project funding in next budget for 2032 completion
7. Widen KY 1819 Watterson Trail through the Jtown Industrial Park (multiple phases) - $500,000 in new budget for Design Phase, need $66,000,000 in future budgets for 2032 completion
8. Widen KY 155 (Taylorsville Rd) PHASE 2, from KY 148 on into Spencer County - need $50,000,000 project funding in next budget for 2032 completion
9. Widen Taylorsville Rd from Tucker Station to Blankenbaker - need $21,300,000 to complete by 2032
10. I-64 New Exit - need $60,000,000 in future budgets to complete in 2032
11. I-64 connector road @ KY 1531 corridor - need $57,000,000 to complete in 2032
12. I-64 Bridge over Tucker Station repairs - need $10,730,000 to complete in 2031
13. Urton Ln Extension from I64 to Seatonville - need $61,500,000 to complete by 2032

So... that's a lot more money than we have, or are likely to get. We do a new budget every 2 years, and the priority will be completing started projects, so this list will not likely get done any time soon. Think of this as a long range plan; we have to start somewhere.

Help Metro stay on top of potholes by reporting online!

Sign up here for email ROAD CONSTRUCTION & DETOUR UPDATES from KYTC

$320 million budget surplus

The latest state revenue numbers show what happens when Kentucky’s workers, families, and employers grow our economy: the Commonwealth finished the 2026 fiscal year stronger than expected. On July 10, the Office of State Budget Director announced that General Fund receipts for the fiscal year ending June 30 totaled nearly $16 billion - $320.6 million more than lawmakers originally budgeted and $476.6 million above the official revenue estimate issued in December 2025.

That performance reflects a stronger-than-expected economy, and the credit belongs to the hardworking Kentuckians who help drive it every day - our workers, families and employers who contribute to the Commonwealth’s success.

The news is especially significant because just a few months ago, the governor warned Kentucky was on track to face a $156 million revenue shortfall. At the time, legislators questioned some of the assumptions behind that projection.

[NOTE - the recent panic over Medicare budget "cuts" was a manufactured crisis, there were ample funds budgeted, and there are less people on Medicaid now vs the last several years, and plenty of reserves if a projection was wrong.]

• General Fund receipts totaled $15.98 billion, a 1.7% increase over FY25. Revenues exceeded the budgeted estimate by $320.6 million and surpassed the December 2025 official forecast by $476.6 million.

• Road Fund revenues totaled $1.82 billion, down 2.2% from FY25 and $72.4 million below the original estimate, largely due to lower motor fuel tax collections.

• Strong sales tax and individual income tax collections helped drive the General Fund’s better-than-expected performance. Sales tax receipts increased 6.4% over the previous year, with growth improving each quarter throughout FY26.

• Individual income tax collections increased 4.6%, adding $247.3 million compared with FY25. Growth was fueled by strong estimated payments and net returns.

• Kentucky’s individual income tax rate was reduced from 4% to 3.5% on Jan. 1, 2026.

This marks the seventh consecutive year Kentucky has finished with a surplus. These strong results allow the state to continue building its budget reserve trust fund, creating a responsible cushion for unexpected challenges while positioning Kentucky to make strategic investments in the future. A strong reserve balance leaves the legislature better prepared to address needs, invest in opportunities, and continue planning for long-term economic growth. It also leaves us strongly positioned to cut the individual income tax again once all conditions are met to trigger it.

So, what creates a budget surplus?

It is not bigger government or higher taxes. It is a growing economy, responsible budgeting and trusting Kentuckians to keep more of the money they earn. Since 2018, the Legislature has worked to cut the individual income tax nearly in half while still making historic investments in the priorities that matter most.

"In case you missed it" section:

Bills I have authored and passed into KY law in previous years:

2026 (long session)

HB10 Gubernatorial Transition - puts additional legal guardrails and records retention policies in place for the last days of a Governor's administration, to ensure that executive powers are not abused. Video of hearing

HB58 ALPR Limitations: limits use, retention, and sale of Automated License Plate Reader data VIDEO HERE

2025 (Short session)

SB129/HB18 Limits on Zoning Board Approvals Passed 76-12 watch video

HB19 Drone Privacy Passed 90-1

HB45 Ban Foreign Donations for Ballot Measures Passed 85-12

2024 (long session)

HB5 -Safer Kentucky Act I was a primary co-sponsor along with 6 others. Passed 75-23

HB43 : requires Fire Districts to notify homeowners and local elected officials before downgrading fire protection services in a way that impacts insurance rates. passed 93-0

HB44 Voter roll cleanup Bill passed 75-17 watch video here.

HB53 Post-election "eyeball" audits passed 87-8 watch video here.

2023 (short session)

HB 144 Ban on warrant-less government surveillance on private land Passed 81-13

District 36 Community Spotlight

Hodgson For Kentucky

Address: PO Box 74

Fisherville, KY 40023

Phone: (502) 276-5213

https://Hodgson4KY.com

Social Media:

@Hodgson4KY on X (Twitter)

JohnHodgson@Substack.com