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Hello John ,
Happy October! As promised, I joined 6 Louisville legislative colleagues and the FOP to present the Safer Kentucky Act to combat our violent crime epidemic. We must not let Louisville go down the path to lawlessness and destruction that we have seen other major cities following. Crime will only stop if we stop it together, and we are committed to working with the Mayor, the police, and the AG to do it.
There are multiple provisions in the bill to address these topics:
- Enhancing penalties for violent crimes, repeat offenders, and illegal gun use
- Improving legal protection from property crimes and vandalism
- Strengthening penalties for trafficking and promoting deadly fentanyl
- Restricting street camping on public and private property
- Keeping defendants with serious mental health issues in custody and treatment while awaiting trial, so they are not a danger to themselves and others
- Establishing a KY State Police post in Jefferson County to help with gang violence
- Regulating bail funding organizations
- Requiring parents to attend juvenile court hearings
- Reforming the parole board and re-entry requirements for those leaving incarceration
Read the detailed press release here.
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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. I am also attending national legislative conferences to learn from other states how they are addressing issues in technology, elections, crime, education etc.
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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District 36 Road & Traffic Plans | |
Billtown Road Reconstruction
KYTC is finalizing property acquisition, construction plans, and utility relocation on Billtown road at several points from Gene Snyder towards Jtown. Check out their great interactive website on the project here. It was a sleepy little country lane 38 years ago when I first lived off Billtown,Rd, but now with development, 14,000 cars a day, narrow lanes, non-existent shoulders, and hazardous intersections, and 138 crashes in 5 years, this project is overdue to improve safety in the area. Dirt will be moving early in 2024.
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!
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We will update The State Road Plan in 2024 - it 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, and there may be a time that I need to call for some "helpful pressure" from community groups to make sure the rest of KY understands our needs. Stay tuned. Community involvement is important. I welcome any feedback or information you have.
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What is a Republic vs a Democracy? | |
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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 against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence."
What is a Republic? It is a form of government where the people elect representatives to act on their behalf, within a constitutional framework of laws. Contrast this with a pure democracy, where every single matter is put to a majority vote. The Founders understood that pure democracy essentially becomes mob rule, as it did in Revolutionary France. The founders observed:
"in democratic states there will be factions. The sovereign power being nominally in the hands of all, will be effectively within the grasp of a few; and,therefore, by the very laws of nature, a few will combine, intrigue, lie, and fight to engross it to themselves. All history bears testimony that this attempt has never yet been disappointed…"
In other words, throughout history, "majority rule" democracy has only resulted in the accumulation of all power to a few, at the expense of the many.
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Section 2 of The KY Constitution of 1891 agrees: "Absolute and arbitrary power over the lives, liberty, and property of freemen exists nowhere in a republic, not even in the largest majority"
In other words, 80% of the people cannot vote to take away the rights of the other 20%, nor can a dictator usurp all power, and may only use those powers granted by the Constitution and law. Violating this constitutional principle is grounds for impeachment.
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Legislative Update - Veterans, Military, and Public Protection Committee Bills Passed 2023 | |
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I joined other legislators in voting for these bills that are now law:
Eliminates residency requirement for state veteran cemeteries, Rep. Derek Lewis – HB 29
removes the Kentucky residency requirement for interment in veteran cemeteries to conform with federal policies.
Addressing the peace officer shortage, Rep. Wade Williams – HB 64 extends the period that a peace officer may be separated from service before losing his or her certification status from 100 days to 365 days.
Protecting K-9s/Bo’s Law, Rep. Bill Wesley – HB 115 includes electronic service dogs in the definition of service animals, allowing a felony prosecution of anyone suspected of injuring or killing a dog in the line of duty.
Protecting the Second Amendment, Rep. Josh Bray – HB 153 makes Kentucky a sanctuary state by prohibiting law enforcement agencies and officers, public agencies, public officials, or employees of a local government from enforcing federal firearm bans.
Creating a statewide urban search and rescue program, Rep. Mark Hart – HB 157
establishes the framework for a Kentucky Urban Search and Rescue Program (KUSAR) under
the Division of Emergency Management in order to make disaster response more effective and efficient.
Streamlining the deployment of mental health crisis response teams, Rep. Jared Bauman – HB 226 assigns Kentucky’s behavioral and mental health-related crisis response to the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disabilities, which already administers these services in the event of a crisis as the result of an agreement with Emergency Management.
Helping at-risk youth, Rep. Chris Fugate – HB 244 establishes the Kentucky Youth Guard
Challenge Program, which will act as an independent school district and work to improve life
skills and employment potential of at-risk youth by providing military-based training and
supervised work experience, together with core program components of assisting participants to receive a high school diploma or its equivalent.
School Resource Officers for Private and Parochial Schools, Rep. Killian Timoney – HB 540 allows private and parochial schools to enter into agreements with local law enforcement agencies or the Kentucky State Police to provide school resource officers.
Motorcycle Safety Certification for Military and Veterans, Senator Matt Deneen – SB 60 exempts operators from testing requirements and the permit process if they prove they completed an approved rider training course. The measure also allows military service members stationed outside of Kentucky to mail or electronically submit their motorcycle vehicle operator’s endorsement.
Safe at Home Act, Senator Julie Raque Adams – SB 79 expands the Address Confidentiality Program by allowing domestic violence victims to participate without a judicial protective order, as well as masks their addresses on publicly available government records.
Clarifying Language Senator Matt Deneen – SB 119 clarifies the definition of sexual assault and sexual contact in order to increase protection for sexual assault victims.
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Let's protect faith, family, and freedom in KY - Liberty is a team sport! | |
Political Happenings in Dist 36 | |
VOTING is right around the corner! | |
VOTING starts Oct 25 for certain excused absentees, and for everyone November 2,3,4 & 7 (election day) - see the County Clerk website for details. There will be voting centers open Thu, Fri and Sat before the election, and your neighborhood poll on Election Day.
We have strengthened the KY election laws to ensure your paper ballot stays securely locked in a box until 6PM on election night, even if you vote early. I have personally put a massive amount of effort into plugging any weak spots in our KY election laws since 2020, read a summary here. I recommend you vote on the early days Thurs, Fri, or Sat to beat the rush, because Tuesday election day you could be sick, have a flat tire or some other emergency, and miss voting. Your early vote is secure.
Who to vote for? Here are my picks, and their positive qualities:
Governor - Daniel Cameron (R) I have known him for 4 years, successfully worked with him in his official Attorney General capacity, and have gotten to know his beautiful family. Great guy, solid values, politically conservative, and he will work very well with the Legislature. This race will get top national attention in November.
Attorney General: Russell Coleman (R) believes in enforcing the law. I have worked with him for a year on legislative matters and recently our crime bill, the Safer Kentucky Act. He is the partner we need in the AG office to fight crime.
Secretary of State: Incumbent Michael Adams (R) has worked with me for the last 4 years on improving election laws in KY, including the voter roll cleanup bill and post-election audit bill I hope to pass in 2024. We don't agree 100% on policy, but have a very solid and honest working relationship that has yielded good results in the Legislature.
Secretary of Agriculture: Jonathan Shell (R) I have known and worked with for 8 years, and he is a very energetic and capable advocate for KY agriculture, with solid conservative values, a great fit for this job.
State Treasurer: Lexington prosecutor Mark Metcalf (R) I only met this year, but I interviewed him at length about his experience and values, and I think he is a solid conservative who will execute the Treasurer job with integrity.
State Auditor: Current Treasurer Allison Ball (R) I have known and worked with for 8 years in her current role as Treasurer. She is smart, principled, conservative. and VERY energetic. I think she could take the role of Auditor to the next level of accountability, which is badly needed in government. No department in government should ever be allowed to say "just trust me" - they need to prove via audit that they are executing their duties faithfully.
Judge, Family Court - Special Election: lawyer Claudette Patton is somebody I have known for 35 years from volunteer roles in church and non-profit ministries, and also in several legal matters. She is a smart lawyer, and would be an honest judge who upholds the law. Judge races are non-partisan, but in my opinion she is the most conservative of the group running for this open seat. (she can't say that, but I can!)
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School Group Touring the Capitol? See my intro video here.
Archived Recent Newsletters:
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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