District 36 Newsletter
July 2023
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Greetings!
Happy Independence Day!
We all greatly appreciate those who risk their lives to keep us safe in fires and EMS situations.
Did you know that most of District 36 is inside a special "Fire Protection District" that has taxing authority and an elected board of 7 trustees that govern how those tax dollars are spent (about $1000 per home)? In fact, there is an election in June every year at the Middletown Fire HQ that almost nobody is aware of, or votes in.
I became very aware this year when Fisherville constituents called me alarmed that their fire insurance had suddenly gone up $4000 per year, and we discovered that the firetruck had been removed from the Fisherville Fire House years ago without the public being notified.
After months of working with KFB insurance and Chief Groody of Anchorage/Middletown Fire, we are getting a Fisherville fire truck permanently assigned in July, and the people within 5 miles of that station will save millions in future insurance premiums.
I will be introducing a bill in Frankfort to require public meeting and comment period before fire protection can be degraded in the future, statewide, so no taxpayer gets a surprise insurance rate hike like this again!
My thanks to Chief Groody for working out a solution for the benefit of the insured in Fisherville. Contact me if you need any documentation to show your insurance carrier (KFB has it already). And... kids, don't play with matches!
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We are in the "Interim Joint Committee" part of the year, where I am meeting regularly in Frankfort with House and Senate committees to discuss 2024 proposed bills in detail, and hear testimony from interested parties.
- 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.
My office number is 351D in the Capitol Annex.
Office phone is 502-564-8100.
I will do my best to answer your questions and consider your input on District 36 issues if you would like to contact me. Liberty is a team sport!
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Let's protect faith, family, and freedom in KY! |
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District 36 Road & Traffic Plans
The 2022 KY Highway Plan is posted, with $281 Million in projects near District 36.
The 2050 Master long range road plan is here online.
Sign up here for email ROAD CONSTRUCTION & DETOUR UPDATES
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I64/ Gene Synder Interchange
is being fully re-designed for better traffic flow. Watch explanation video here.
This is a part of the multi year I-Move Kentucky project affecting all our interstates in the Eastern part of the county. Construction will continue through 2024.
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Other roads in our District will be re-evaluated for safety and traffic this year, for prioritization of future funds.
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America's Founding Document - The Declaration of Independance |
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In Congress, July 4, 1776
It is impossible to properly understand the US Constitution or the eternal values that under-gird the laws in our Republic without the Declaration of Independence - the document that established the United States as an independent nation on July 4, 1776.
Congress told the most powerful nation on earth (England) that our rights did not come from the government, and government cannot take them away!... At least not without a fight.
- "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights...
- among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness...
- to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed...
- whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
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The KY Constitution of 1891 Is evern longer and more explicit than the US Constitution in protecting our rights. As a legislator, I look to the KY Constitution often to make sure we are on the correct, legal path with lawmaking.
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Legislative Update -Energy/Environment Bills |
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2023 Legislative Action on Energy and Environment related issues - I voted "yes" on these bills with my colleagues
Banning ESG-driven pension investing, Rep. Scott Sharp – HB 236 mandates that state retirement systems move away from environmental, social and governance (ESG) driven investing to restore the emphasis on financial returns.
Eliminating outdated RFG gas requirements, Rep. Jared Bauman - HJR 37 directs the Energy and Environment Cabinet to adopt revisions to the state air quality implementation plan to remove the reformulated gas requirement for Jefferson County and applicable parts of Oldham and Bullitt counties. In the summer this useless RFG requirement drives the price of regular gas up by 30-75 cents.
Keeping fossil fuel-fired electric plants on the grid, Sen. Robby Mills – SB 4 prohibits the Public Service Commission from approving a utility’s request to retire a coal-fired electric plant unless the utility can demonstrate that the retirement will not negatively impact the reliability or resilience of the electric grid, or the affordability of customer rates.
Decreasing consumer electric rates, Sen. Phillip Wheeler – SB 192 allows investor-owned electric facilities to use securitization to recover costs associated with the retirement of a power plant or other significant assets as well as the costs incurred in severe weather events rather than seeking rate increases. Securitization allows a utility to refinance financial obligations in order to lower the costs to ratepayers by converting the short-term debt to longer-term secured debt.
Streamlining water pollution permitting process, Sen. Johnnie Turner – SB 226 eases the process for pollution discharge permits issued to companies engaged in surface mining. Despite the Governor from vetoing this piece of legislation, we overrode his veto and SB 226 is now law.
Repairing Kentucky’s dams, Sen. Johnnie Turner – SB 277 revises regulations and updates the framework for floodplain management in an effort to guide the upgrade of Kentucky’s inadequate and sometimes failing dams. The measure also requires dam owners to develop and maintain emergency action plans.
Modernizing water waste disposal protocols, Rep. Chris Freeland - HB 160 creates a collaborative agreement between industry stakeholders and the Kentucky Energy Cabinet. HB 160 also addresses the planning process for building the water waste disposal system used in waste water treatment facilities.
Extending the waste management fund, Rep. Jim Gooch - HB 222 extends the state’s Hazardous Waste Management Fund until June of 2032. This fund is vital in waste disposal mitigation.
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I am working with others on 3 large legislative packages for 2024:
1) Emerging Technology Privacy Bill - covering: privacy from drones, malicious "deepfake" videos, human micro-chipping restrictions, and data usage restrictions from license plate cameras. Any other ideas on what we should look at?
2) Election process - my bills HB214 (audits) and HB230 (voter roll cleanup) did not make it over the finish line in 2023, so they will be worked on in committee this summer, adjusted, and re-launched for 2024 session. KY has greatly improved in election integrity since 2020, with law changes, ranked now #12, and I hope to get us up into the top 10% of the nation.
3) Public Safety - school safety, gang violence, sentencing and parole, jails, rehabilitation, policing, bail groups, witness protection, prosecutor accountability. This is a complex and controversial subject, and now is the time to provide ideas and input. My detailed policy paper on the subject is here: https://conta.cc/43z3Dlo
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Political Happenings in Dist 36 |
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Most attention and advertising is on the Governor's Race, as the most important election in America in 2023. Eyes will be on us as KY frequently predicts the Presidential election the following year.
Attorney General and my good friend Daniel Cameron (R) (who along with his wife, Makenzie, are actually normal-sized humans... I have a strange effect in photos for some reason) will face incumbent Andy Beshear in the fall, and current polls show them even at 47% each. I anticipate well in excess of $20 million will be spent on advertising in this race, and we will all be sick to death of political ads. I heartily endorse Daniel, and encourage you to hear him speak to see why.
Come meet Daniel July 14th, 6PM at Thoroughbred Hall in Jtown! I am co-hosting this event with Jtown/Middletown area legislators and Metro council members.
Other important races are on the ballot, and are worthy of your consideration. There will be a "straight party" option on the ballot in the General Election.
Attorney General: My friend Russell Coleman (R) believes in enforcing the law, and is a proven crime fighter. He will face State Rep. Pamela Stevenson (D) in November.
Secretary of Agriculture: Former State Representative Jonathan Shell (R) will face Democrat Sierra Enlow in November for the open seat.
Judges: Due to a resignation, there will also be a local Family Court Judge nonpartisan Special Election for an unexpired term with 6 challengers, including my 30+ year friend Claudette Patton.
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Small Business JCN Luncheon July 20:
Job Creators Network, the voice in DC for small business and "main street" will be here for a business luncheon July 20 with their president, Alfredo Ortiz. Contact me if you would like to attend! I know a guy.
School Group Touring the Capitol? See my intro video here.
Archived Recent Newsletters:
June 2023 - Primary election, crime legislation update, Billtown Road project
May 2023 - 2023 Education bills, Taylorsville road project, 2024 priorities
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
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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