|
Greetings!
Happy Independence Day!
It's been 250 years since a a scrappy bunch of American patriots decided they no longer wanted a King to rule over them unjustly, and wrote a letter to the world explaining why - the Declaration of Independence. If you have not read it for a while, it's good to pause (at least every 250 years or so) and read over the ideas that formed our great nation.
Summer is legislative conference season, and I am participating in several with legislators from across the country. We share and discuss ideas, and bring the best ones home to make better KY laws. The NACL Policy Conference at Liberty University (photo) was some very intense learning and great inspiration.
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.
---
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 Study
We have current funding for a "study" on reconstructing Johnson Road, KY1531.
THIS IS THE TIME for public input, please answer this survey by July 11 if you use Johnson Road: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/de9f6458869f497c91fb2818c7257d58
It will be 4-10 years before we can actually get budget and get the road improved (highlighted #6 below), but the project direction will be set by this study. "Speak now or forever hold your peace", as they used to say at weddings! We had good turnout at the public meeting June 11.
Visit the project website to learn more. Please take the survey! Really.
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.
- US 60 at Gilliland Road/Eastwood project: previously funded, in work, for completion 2026/7
- KY1819/Billtown Rd Reconstruction project: previously funded, in work, for completion 2026
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Reconstruct KY 1531 (Johnson Rd) to make it wider with smoother curves - need $12,000,000 project funding in next budget for 2032 completion
-
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
-
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
-
Widen Taylorsville Rd from Tucker Station to Blankenbaker - need $21,300,000 to complete by 2032
-
I-64 New Exit - need $60,000,000 in future budgets to complete in 2032
-
I-64 connector road @ KY 1531 corridor - need $57,000,000 to complete in 2032
-
I-64 Bridge over Tucker Station repairs - need $10,730,000 to complete in 2031
-
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
| | KY Property Taxes! (a hot topic for a hot month) | | |
Kentucky’s constitutional framework for property taxation, while structured for uniformity and limited exemptions, imposes a direct burden on homeowners that many residents find burdensome amid rising assessments and fixed incomes.
Section 170 lists narrow exemptions, including public property for public use, religious institutions, purely public charities, non-profit educational entities and libraries, and a homestead exemption for qualifying seniors aged 65+ or totally disabled. This exemption is adjusted biennially for inflation based on the U.S. cost-of-living index; for the 2025-2026 assessment years, the amount stands at $49,100 (deducted from the assessed value of the primary residence).[turning 65 this year, I just filed my online exemption.]
Section 171 mandates that taxes be levied only for public purposes by general laws and uniform within property classes, while allowing classification and protecting certain bond exemptions.
Section 172 requires all non-exempt property to be assessed at fair cash value—the price it would bring in a voluntary sale—with penalties for willful assessor errors.
Section 174 demands proportional taxation based on value for both individuals and corporations.
This system prioritizes equal treatment and restricts arbitrary relief, yet it leaves many Kentucky families exposed to escalating tax liabilities tied to market-driven valuations.
We cannot reduce total property taxes without reducing the cost of the programs they fund - in our area it is mostly JCPS (72%) and Fire/EMS (17%) and Police/Metro (10%).
But we are searching for a way to limit the impact of runaway assessments on individual homeowners. It will likely require a Constitutional Amendment that all Kentuckians have to vote on. Any scheme that benefits one group while penalizing others is not likely to pass. It's tricky.
One idea is to say an individual property tax bill can only increase by 4% per year, which is the County-wide legal limit, and the value would jump up on sale or death of the owner. That is a lot more tolerable than the 35-40% bumps we have been seeing due to inflation and home price escalation - but it requires a complex Constitutional Amendment.
| | |
Education Bills passed in 2026 Session:
HB 253 brings back phonics!! Phases out the ineffective “three-cueing” reading method used in Kentucky schools, instead emphasizing: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. Maybe more kids can actually learn to read now?
HB 253 also prohibits school districts from entering into nondisclosure agreements when misconduct involving a minor or student occurs.
HB 562 expands educational and workforce opportunities for students with disabilities by creating an additional high school diploma option for eligible students who currently receive only a certificate of completion.
SB 1 restructures governance within Jefferson County Public Schools by addressing constitutional concerns raised by the Kentucky Supreme Court while shifting key operational authority—such as personnel, financial decisions, and strategic implementation—to the superintendent under board oversight, and redefining the school board’s role to focus more on long-term planning and accountability.
SB 2 caps pay increases for superintendents and school administrators to no more than those awarded to classroom teachers, and ties a district’s SEEK eligibility to this limit.
SB 4 All 7 current JCPS Board Members will lose their seats, and there will be elections for 5 new School Board district reps. Hopefully, this “new blood” on the board can keep better track of the budget and eliminate some of the waste and fraud. A State Auditor’s deep-dive audit is expected this summer, and my guess is that it will not be pretty, with financial mismanagement at the top of the list.
SB 46 allows Kentucky school districts to use smaller passenger vans for student transportation while requiring appropriate driver qualifications, training, and drug testing to ensure safety.
SB 101 requires schools to report assaults and attempted assaults against teachers and school employees that take place on school grounds and bus stops, includes reporting requirements, and mandates a 12-month expulsion for students who intentionally assault staff. It is sad the legislature must make this a law to ensure that it gets done. Schools have always had the power to do this… they just don’t for the most part - ask your School Board member why.
"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 | |
Election Integrity Network
District 36 resident Andy Mangione has joined the Election Integrity Network (EIN) as its national Director of Coalition Outreach & Engagement.
The Election Integrity Network’s mission is to build and maintain a permanent election integrity infrastructure of citizen volunteers across the nation who work to ensure transparency, accuracy, integrity, and accountability in elections.
They are currently forming a coalition in Kentucky and if you’d like to learn more about engaging on behalf of election integrity in Kentucky, contact Andy at andy@electionintegrity.network.
Voter's Bill of Rights: (more detail at link)
I. Only US Citizens Participate in US Elections, in Any Manner
II. Voter ID For All Votes / Voters: Acceptable ID Confirms Citizenship
III. Restore Election Day, Qualify Absentee Voters; Results Election Night
IV. Confirm Citizenship, Identity, & Residency of All Voters, Rigorous Voter Roll Maintenance
V. Replace All Vulnerable / Insecure Voting Technology; Only Pre-Printed Secure Paper Ballots, Hand-Marked
VI. Confirm Accuracy of Election Results Pre-Certification; Require Post Election Independent Audits
VII. Ensure Transparency of Elections and Election Records
VIII. Protect Deployed Military Voters, Separate from Overseas Civilians
IX. Stop Billionaire-Concocted Election Schemes
X. Citizen Standing to Enforce Election Laws; Protect Laws from Leftwing Legal Apparatus; Accountability & Penalties for Violations
Learn more: https://www.electionintegritynetwork.org/
| | | Let's protect faith, family, and freedom in KY - Liberty is a team sport! | | Political Happenings in Dist 36 | | JCPS School Board Restructure | |
JCPS School Board spends the vast majority of your local taxes, at $2.3 billion; it is over double the size of our entire Metro government, including roads, Fire, EMS and Police. Most of that comes from your inflated Property Tax bill, with hundreds of millions more coming from the State.
The existing school board (and prior Superintendents they hired) have displayed utter financial incompetence for years, with irresponsible spending, massive central office staff increases, tax increases, and even deficit spending going above and beyond the taxes collected. All that to produce only 1/3rd of students capable of reading on grade level.
Having raised property taxes 4%, they still are having to borrow $100,000,000 to make payroll in the next school year, because they failed to trim enough fat out of the Central Office.
The time for excuses and polite discussion is over. The JCPS Board policies have focused on everything BUT teaching kids to read, write, do math and become employable citizens upon graduation, and the damage they have inflicted on the generation of students since 2020 is unconscionable.
So... the Legislature stepped in and passed a bill (SB4) that knocks all current School Board members out of their seats this November. Some have already quit. .
A bit of good news:
-
I like the new Superintendent Brian Yearwood, and he is trying to do the right things with financial control, discipline, and academic basics.
-
23 people have filed for the open 5 seats, showing strong community interest in improvement
-
Our East end (blue District 3 on the map) Board rep Taylor Everett is outstanding, and well respected. He is the only one of the current board members running in the new election, and is a probable candidate to lead the new board if elected in November. If you do nothing else in politics this year get ALL your neighbors to vote for Taylor this November. He is our best chance to lead the financial reform of JCPS.
- There is a chance to pick up South District 5, and mid-east District 2 with conservative board members - several have filed. We in East District 3 can't vote for them, but I will be researching and making endorsements soon that you can share with friends in those areas.
- Also, a new law passed allows political parties to endorse and support candidates in non-partisan races like school board and judges - but they don't show up on the ballot with a party affiliation. So voters have to do their homework, but can at least identify which candidates best fit their party values if there is an endorsement. Those positions are not affected by "straight party" voting.
| | |
Thanks for reading and being involved!
John Hodgson
State Representative District 36
| | | | |
Address: PO Box 74
Fisherville, KY 40023
Phone: (502) 276-5213
https://Hodgson4KY.com
Social Media:
@Hodgson4KY on X (Twitter)
JohnHodgson@Substack.com
| | | | |
