Valarie Hodges

Valarie Dawn Hope Hodges was born on March 12, 1955, and is a politician and businessperson from Denham Springs, Louisiana. She is a member of the Republican Party and currently serves as a State Senator representing District 13, a position she assumed on January 8, 2024. Her district largely encompasses Livingston Parish north of Interstate 12.

Prior to her Senate election, Hodges represented the 64th state House district of the Louisiana House of Representatives from January 2012 to January 2024, which included the rural portions of northwest Livingston Parish and northeast East Baton Rouge Parish. She was elected to the State Senate in October 2023, securing 65 percent of the vote in the jungle primary election against opponent Buddy Mincey.

Education

Hodges attended Glen Oaks High School in Baton Rouge and completed coursework at Bob Brooks School of Real Estate in Baton Rouge and Light University. She also completed coursework at Louisiana State University.

Political Experience

Throughout her legislative career, Hodges has held several significant positions and committee assignments:

• Committee Roles: Vice-Chair of Homeland Security, Appropriations, and the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget; member of Judiciary and Administration of Criminal Justice committees; chairwoman of two oversight committees in the Louisiana Legislature; Vice-Chair of the Human Trafficking Task Force
• Founding Member: Conservative Caucus
• Past Leadership: President of the Livingston Parish Republican Women's Club and member of the Executive Board of the Republican Party

Notable Legislative Achievements:

• Led efforts to end sanctuary cities in Louisiana in 2016
• Formed an Immigration Task Force in 2015 to assess the fiscal and economic impact of illegal immigration on Louisiana taxpayers
• Championed completion of the Comite River Diversion Canal Project following the August 2016 flood
• Received a 100% Pro-Life voting record from Louisiana Right to Life in 2023
• Was among only 19 legislators to vote against breaking the spending cap in 2023
• Authored and advanced legislation prohibiting foreign ownership of immovable property
• Introduced Senate Bill 226 in the 2025 Regular Session to prohibit foreign adversaries from participating in certain property transactions

Hodges was appointed to the Governor's anti-human trafficking task force and has received recognition including the 2015 National Security Golden Eagle Award from ACT for America. She has been instrumental in Louisiana's efforts to combat human trafficking, contributing to the state's national ranking as number one in this fight.