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Hello John ,
The legislative session has started!
I filed several bills the first day, and WDRB news did an informative feature on my bipartisan Electronic Privacy bill, HB45
Also filed were my bills on:
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Voter roll cleanup HB44
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Post-election "eyeball" audits HB53
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Fire Protection change notification rules HB43- to prevent "surprise" reductions in Fire and EMS coverage, like we finally got resolved in Fisherville last year.
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I also co- sponsored a number of other measures to shrink government, reduce regulation, safeguard our liberty, and protect us from intrusive leftist ideology. See the list
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The Safer Kentucky Act was written by a team of 7 Louisville legislators, and I focused on the included Street Camping Ban (as seen on WDRB TV). The act includes harsher penalties for violent crime, more support for law enforcement, reforms on bail funding and parole board, mental health confinement, and other provisions to combat violent crime and gang activity. This is a priority bill to restore public safety.
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This is a Budget year, so I will be representing District 36 in that negotiation.
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District 36 Road & Traffic Plans |  | |
Major projects are underway at KY155, I265 and I64, and Old Henry road, with detours often.
Sign up here for email ROAD CONSTRUCTION & DETOUR UPDATES
It is Pothole Season! Help Louisville Metro find them all by reporting online!
Road Budget Planning Time!
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Every 2 years, the Legislature updates the Road budget for the state. All of our local projects that are "moving dirt" now will be completed in the current budget -
- I265/64 interchange
- KY155 bridge widening
- Old Henry extension and widening
- Billtown Road improvements
- The priority for District 36 projects in the next budget cycle:
- Gilliland Rd intersection at US 60
- KY 155 widening from I265 to Fisherville
- Johnson Road plan for reconstruction
- US 60 widening to 6 lanes in Middletown
- KY 155 widening from Fisherville to Spencer Co
- KY 1819/Billtown Rd reconstruction
- Eastwood-Fisherville I64 exit & Connector road study
- I 265 pavement improvements
- KY 1819 pavement improvements
- Plantside Dr/Rehl Rd Extension to Taylorsville Rd
- KY1819/Watterson Trail reconstruction
Updating the Road Plan is a complicated and competitive process, as there are 99 other Legislators like me who are seeking the limited project funds for the next 2 years. Click here for an explanation of the process.
Bottom Line: I will be making sure that District 36 competes effectively for scarce road funds in the Budget Planning process over the next few months. Community involvement is important. I welcome any feedback or information you have on road needs. It is a slow and painful process, usually taking 8+ years from identification of a need to final completion.
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Who are all these elected officials? | |
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US Constitution, Section 4:
"The United States shall guarantee to every state in this union a Republican Form of government and shall protect each of them from invasion;"
A "Republican Form of government" means that each state must have officials in government that are elected to represent the people, vs having a king/prince/dictator who is not elected and not a representative of the people. It is up to the states to decide what those elected offices are. Every state has an elected Governor, 49 have a House and Senate (1 has a single chamber), and every state has some kind of elected County level officials - but this is by no means uniform across the country.
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So who are these elected offices in KY under The KY Constitution?
Section 31 - Legislature - every 2 years, 100 State Representatives are elected, every 4 years (staggered) 38 State Senators are elected.
Section 95 - Constitutional officers - every 4 years (2023) - : Governor, Lt Gov, Atty General, Secretary of State, Commissioner of Agriculture, Treasurer, Auditor
Section 97 - Circuit Court Clerks and Commonwealth's Attorneys - every 6 years. These are elected in all 120 Counties, but serve a state-connected role.
Section 99 - County officials - every 4 years. County Judge-Executive, County Clerk, County Attorney, Sheriff, Jailer, Coroner, Surveyor, Assessor (PVA), and multiple Constables and Justices of the Peace, and may include multiple elected Magistrates or Commissioners.
Sections 110-113 - Judges - every 8 years, by judicial district: 7 Supreme Court Justices, 14 Appeals Court Justices, 57 Circuit Court Judges, 35 Family Court Judges, and 59 District Court Judges
Section 155 - School Boards - every 4 years, staggered. There are 170+ KY school districts with multiple board members each.
Section 156-160 - Municipalities - every incorporated city can set rules to elect their own mayor, city council members, and other elected officials under KY statutes.
That is a lot of elected officials! The US Constitution Section 4 guarantees that we in KY get to elect all those people to represent and govern us, and that they will not be appointed by some US official, or a king, dictator, warlord, etc. That is what is meant by the guaranteed "Republican Form of government" in every state.
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The 2024 Regular Session started Jan 2.
This is a 60 day budget session (odd numbered years are only 30 legislative days) and runs Jan 2- Apr 15.
As bills get voted on, I will update you here monthly. Look to my social media pages for frequent updates on new bills I am involved with.
The budget will be at the top of the agenda. The budget itself is a state law that lasts for 2 years, and it is way more than just math and accounting. The law will detail what things are funded and what are de-funded, and attach certain restrictions to those funds. This is the primary responsibility of the Legislature under the KY Constitution, the law that makes all of government possible for 2 more years. Click here for a Budget 101 explanation.
KY has a balanced budget requirement in the constitution - we cannot spend more than we take in via taxes and other revenue. We tax and spend around $13 billion a year from KY residents, with another $30 billion a year coming from other sources like the Federal government, road funds, tobacco settlement funds, and restricted funds.
The Legislature must approve ALL expenditures, even those provided by sources outside KY.
My 4 Committee assignments are:
- Elections & Constitutional Amendments
- State Government
- Transportation
- Information Technology Oversight Board (newly formed)
Watch live internet video of the session and committees on this KET link.
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@lrc.ky.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.
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Let's protect faith, family, and freedom in KY - Liberty is a team sport! | |
Political Happenings in Dist 36 | |
New faces coming to the Legislature in 2025 | |
The Filing deadline has passed, and here is a list of those running for Legislature in 2024.
A number of Legislators have announced their retirement, which will lead to new faces in the Legislature.
Since 2015, 82% of legislators are new to Frankfort, dramatically changing what the Legislature produces (mostly for the good). Several senior Reps that hold committee chairmanships will be replaced with new faces, and there will be a ripple effect in committee leadership, which will have an effect on policy going forward.
- Rep Bratcher chairs the Elections Committee (running for Metro Council)
- Rep Bentley chairs the budget committee for Health & Family Services (retiring)
- Rep Pratt chairs the Small Business and IT committee (retiring)
- Reb Webber chairs Economic Development and Workforce Investment committee (appointed to Deputy Treasurer)
- Rep Reed vice chairs the Budget Committee (moving to Ag Department)
- Rep Dixon vice chairs the Transportation Committee (retiring)
- Derrick Graham - Democratic House Leadership (retiring)
- Several others including Reps Justice, Roberts, Raymond, Palumbo, & Herron
- In the Senate, Thayer, Westerfield, Schickel, and Carol are retiring, opening up a number of chairmanships that will have an effect on policy.
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Too busy to read? Listen to my legislative preview here.
School Group Touring the Capitol? See my intro video here.
Archived Recent Newsletters:
Dec 2023 - Road budget priorities, 2024 Session preview, election recap
Nov 2023 - I64 project,, State Gov Committee bills, election preview
Oct 2023 - Crime bill, Billtown Road project, VMAP Committee bills passed
Sept 2023 - privacy bill, I64 interchange, Family & Children legislation passed
August 2023 - Road budget process, interim committees, Licensing and Admin Regulation bills
July 2023 - Energy & Environment bills, I64/Gene Snyder project, November election lineup
June 2023 - Primary election, crime legislation update, Billtown Road project
May 2023 - 2023 Education bills, Taylorsville road project, 2024 priorities
April 2023 - 2023 Session recap, 2050 road plan
March 2023 - legislative session, N English Station road project, Taiwan ambassador
February 2023 - Part 2 of Session, Eastwood cutoff project, election law
January 2023 - How to track the Session and bills, new legislation, Eastwood Cutoff project
December 2022 - Election recap, legislative preview, how a bill becomes law
November 2022 - KY highway Plan, election preview
October 2022 - I64 Interchange, Judicial races
September '22 – Eastwood Cutoff project, Constitutional Privacy protection
August '22 – KY 155 / Pope Lick project, Limitations on Government Power
July '22 – First newsletter – our God-given Rights
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Thanks for reading and being involved!
John Hodgson
State Representative District 36
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Address: PO Box 74
Fisherville, KY 40023
Phone: (502) 276-5213
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