State of the State Highlights 2026

Alabama

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey said the state of the state is strong, and the future is even stronger. In her address the governor highlighted continued economic momentum, long-term investments, and policy priorities focused on public safety, education, workforce development, infrastructure, and healthcare. 

Key Speech Highlights:

Economic Development – Highlighted workforce development efforts, site readiness, and the first-year results of the consolidated Department of Workforce.

Infrastructure –Discussed recent broadband expansion efforts as well as road and bridge projects in all 67 counties. 

Education – Outlined significant improvements in student performance and education outcomes; announced the largest Education Trust Fund proposal in state history; recommended a two percent teacher pay increase; called for additional investments in literacy, numeracy, and school safety; and proposed increased funding for the state’s education savings account program.

Public Safety – Reiterated public safety as a top priority and urged passage of legislation increasing penalties for violent crimes. Also discussed progress on construction of new correctional facilities and the recruitment of corrections officers.

Healthcare – Spoke about the Rural Health Transformation Program and outlined 11 initiatives to strengthen rural healthcare delivery.

Emergency Preparedness and Resilience – Called for legislation to establish a statewide resilience plan and announced the launch of a statewide flood notification system.

Alaska

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy used his address to highlight progress made during his administration while outlining priorities for the coming year. The governor emphasized public safety, education outcomes, fiscal stability, energy development, infrastructure investment, housing affordability, and workforce preparation.

Key Speech Highlights:

Public Safety – Reaffirmed public safety as a top priority and highlighted improvements in crime trends while calling for continued investment in State Troopers, Village Public Safety Officers, and law enforcement resources across the state.

Education – Called for expanding education choice, including support for charter schools, and reforms aimed at improving outcomes, increasing accountability and advancing student achievement.

Budget and Fiscal Management – Highlighted limited spending growth in recent years and said the proposed budget includes investments in education, public safety, energy, housing affordability, and childcare while maintaining fiscal discipline. Also noted continued efforts to streamline and modernize government.

Energy Development – Emphasized investing in multiple energy sources and leveraging Alaska’s natural resources to power homes and businesses, support exports, and strengthen long-term energy security.

Agriculture – Highlighted the executive order establishing the Alaska Department of Agriculture to support agricultural development and strengthen food security.

Other – Said that during this session he will introduce several initiatives focused on childcare, job training, and affordable housing. 

Arizona

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs began by reaffirming the Arizona Promise — a commitment to security, opportunity, and freedom for all Arizonans. She highlighted accomplishments from the past year, acknowledged ongoing challenges related to affordability and public safety, and laid out key priorities for the legislative session ahead. 

Key Speech Highlights:

Affordability and Tax Relief – Identified affordability as her top priority, urging lawmakers to pass a Middle Class Tax Cuts Package that would reduce taxes for working families, expand the standard deduction, cut taxes on overtime and tips, and offer relief for seniors.

Government Efficiency – Introduced the Arizona Capacity and Efficiency Initiative, a set of cost savings measures in her budget aimed at streamlining government functions and reducing taxpayer costs. 

Disaster Response –Described the state’s response to the Dragon Bravo Fire and ongoing advocacy for federal assistance for communities impacted by recent flooding.

Public Safety – Discussed efforts to counter drug trafficking and organized crime within the state while calling on the federal government to reimburse the state for its border security expenses.

Water Policy – Outlined initiatives to protect groundwater while at the same time promoting economic development, emphasized the need to ensure fair access to water from the Colorado River, and rethinking tax treatment of water-intensive data centers.

Housing – Announced a new Housing Acceleration Fund to help build more affordable housing faster and an Arizona Affordability Fund to help families with housing and utility costs, funded in part by a proposed nightly fee on short-term rental stays.

Education – Called for greater investments in public schools and bringing accountability to the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) entitlement program. 

California

California Governor Gavin Newsom discussed defending democratic values while continuing to build an inclusive, forward-looking economy. In his address the governor described investments in jobs, education, affordability, climate action, and recovery from the Los Angeles wildfires. 

Key Speech Highlights:

Fiscal Management – Noted efforts to rebuild reserves and pay down pension obligations while acknowledging ongoing revenue volatility and long-term structural challenges.
Workforce and Economic Development – Highlighted the Jobs First economic blueprint aligned with universities and trade schools, regional development strategies, expanded tax credits, apprenticeship growth, and investments in advanced industries.

Education – Discussed record per-student funding, full funding for universal transitional kindergarten, investments in school meals, expanded before- and after-school programs, creation of community schools, and improvements in statewide academic outcomes. Proposed governance alignment across early childhood, K–12, and higher education.

Housing – Described housing costs as California’s core affordability issue. Highlighted major statewide housing reforms enacted since 2019, announced plans to address the role of large institutional investors in the housing market, and called for efforts to help reduce the cost of construction.

Climate and Energy – Emphasized California’s efforts in clean energy, climate policy, and resilience. Highlighted water storage investments, wildfire recovery, insurance reforms, and continued expansion of renewable and clean power generation.

Health Care – Noted efforts to stabilize the health care system, protect access, and lower costs including through subsidies and launching California’s own generic drug label.

Mental Health and Homelessness – Highlighted major reforms to the mental health system, updated conservatorship laws, and new housing and treatment capacity.

Public Safety – Talked about increased investments in law enforcement including crime suppression measures. 

Colorado

Colorado Governor Jared Polis said the state of the state is strong, resilient, loving, kind, innovative, free, and ever bright with the promise of a Colorado for all. In his address, the governor emphasized affordability, housing supply, transportation options, education outcomes, workforce preparation, public safety, health care costs, clean energy, and responsible stewardship of public resources, while urging lawmakers to continue delivering practical results for Coloradans.

Key Speech Highlights:

Housing – Emphasized reducing housing costs by accelerating housing production and removing barriers to construction. Called for funding the senior homestead exemption, addressing rising homeowners insurance costs through mitigation and risk-reduction strategies, and investing in housing near transit

Transportation and Transit – Highlighted major investments in roads, bridges, and transit, including expanded bus service, progress toward Front Range passenger rail, and continued support for multimodal transportation.

Education – Discussed full funding of public schools, elimination of the Budget Stabilization Factor, expanded free preschool and full-day kindergarten, and increased per-pupil funding. Emphasized improving literacy, supporting educators, and ensuring students are prepared for postsecondary education and careers.

Workforce and Economic Opportunity – Highlighted expanded access to free and low-cost job training, concurrent enrollment, and efforts to align education and workforce systems. Called for consolidating workforce programs into a single department to improve access, efficiency, and outcomes.

Healthcare – Noted efforts to reduce health care costs through price transparency, prescription drug affordability initiatives, and efficiency reforms. Spoke about the need to slow Medicaid cost growth while protecting access for residents who rely on the program.

Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness – Highlighted reductions in violent and property crime and continued investments in law enforcement, wildfire response, disaster preparedness, and school safety. Emphasized support for local agencies, emergency response capacity, and protections against political violence and extremism.

Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources – Noted progress expanding low-cost clean energy, reducing pollution, and protecting air and water resources. Called for investments in transmission projects, water conservation, wildfire mitigation, and stewardship of public lands to support long-term resilience and affordability.

Delaware

Delaware Governor Matt Meyer said the state of the state is strong despite facing challenges, tragedy, and unprecedented uncertainty over the past year. The governor noted Delaware’s quality of life remains high, open spaces remain protected, cost of living remains more affordable than neighboring states, and companies and families continue to choose Delaware. However, the governor said the state has work to do to expand opportunity, protect affordability, keep communities safe, and ensure Delaware wins in competitive global marketplace. In his address, the governor highlighted priorities including education outcomes, health care access, housing affordability, workforce development, energy and utility costs, infrastructure investment, and improving the efficiency and transparency of state government.

Key Speech Highlights:

Education and Early Childhood – Emphasized early childhood education as a foundation for opportunity, including a recent investment to expand access to childcare, reduce waiting lists, and support working families. Reaffirmed the state’s literacy initiatives, called for completion of a new public education funding formula, and urged reforms to improve accountability and student outcomes.

Health Care – Outlined efforts to address provider shortages and rising costs. Proposed expanding scope of practice, reforming Certificate of Need, and increasing mobile health units.

Housing and Homelessness – Highlighted a statewide shortage of affordable housing and called for streamlining permitting, digitizing approvals, and reducing regulatory barriers to lower housing costs. Discussed zoning reforms, continued investments in workforce and affordable housing, and plans to expand HOPE Centers to Kent and Sussex Counties.

Energy – Identified rising utility costs as a key affordability concern. Called for holding utility companies accountable for rate increases, urged the Public Service Commission to limit future rate hikes, and emphasized the need to expand in-state power generation, including offshore wind and nuclear energy, to stabilize long-term energy costs.

Economic Development and Workforce – Highlighted Delaware’s role as a global leader in corporate governance, citing record incorporations and continued strength of the corporate franchise. Discussed major private-sector investments, port expansion, support for small businesses through expanded EDGE grants, modernization of banking laws, and efforts to better align workforce development programs.

Government Efficiency and Transparency – Talked about streamlining permitting, modernizing unemployment insurance systems, improving agency performance, strengthening accountability and increasing transparency across state agencies.

Florida

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the state has delivered on a seven-year agenda focused on fiscal discipline, economic growth, education reform, strengthening public safety, environmental restoration, and the protection of individual freedoms. Looking forward, the governor called for property tax relief, informed medical consent, and responsible artificial intelligence regulations.

Key Speech Highlights:

Fiscal Management – Highlighted the expansion of the rainy day fund, accelerated debt repayment, low per-capita state spending, and a comparatively small state workforce.

Economic Growth and Tax Relief – Cited sustained economic expansion, strong job creation, record business formation, and a series of recent tax relief measures.

Education – Outlined the expansion of school choice, high graduation rates, increased teacher pay, restrictions on cell phone use in classrooms, enhanced civics education, and reforms to higher education.

Human Services – Discussed the Hope Florida initiative connecting families with faith-based and community partners.

Public Safety – Emphasized support for law enforcement, strong criminal penalties, and maintaining Florida’s position as a law-and-order state.

Environment and Natural Resources – Outlined progress on Everglades restoration, water quality improvements, coastal protection, and improvements in Florida’s response to natural disasters.

Future Priorities – Called for continued property tax relief, protections for informed medical consent, and oversight of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

Hawaii

Hawaii Governor Josh Green said that after three years of overcoming tremendous challenges together, the state of Hawaii remains strong and resilient. In his address, the governor highlighted priorities including cost-of-living relief, housing production, homelessness reduction, health care access, economic growth, environmental protection, and continued recovery from the Maui wildfires.

Key Speech Highlights:

Cost of Living – Proposed preserving existing tax cuts in 2026 while pausing planned future cuts to address federal-related revenue losses and redirect resources toward food security and childcare.

Housing – Discussed progress in addressing housing costs and called for continued efforts to bring more short-term rentals back into the housing market, funding of the Leasehold Program on Oahu, redeveloping of public housing, and expanding the use of state lands for workforce housing.

Homelessness – Highlighted a shift toward a housing-first approach and focus on healthcare, including expansion of kauhale villages and integration of supportive services. Called for expanding kauhale villages statewide, strengthening homelessness services, and integrating mental health care and addiction treatment into homelessness strategy.

Economic Growth and Workforce – Noted economic recovery and diversification, including low unemployment, rising incomes, and growth in visitor spending. Recommended expanding stackable film tax credits, supporting construction apprenticeships tied directly to affordable housing projects, and creating public-private workforce pathways in targeted industries.

Environment and Climate Resilience – Highlighted enactment of the nation’s first dedicated climate fee to fund environmental protection and climate resilience efforts. Called for expanding wildfire prevention and preparedness as well as partnering with schools and nonprofits to train the next generation of climate stewards.

Health Care – Highlighted efforts to expand access and affordability, while proposing covering the cost of enhanced ACA tax credits for anyone in Hawaii currently using them, expanding the HELP initiative to more providers, and implementing the state’s plan for the Rural Health Transformation Program.

Maui Wildfire Recovery – Emphasized continued commitment to long-term recovery following the 2023 wildfires, including temporary and permanent housing solutions, rental assistance, and infrastructure rebuilding. 

Idaho

Idaho Governor Brad Little said the state of the state is strong, and while Idaho does face challenges, it has a solid foundation for enduring, long-term prosperity. In his address the governor emphasized preserving Idaho as a place where opportunity thrives and maintaining a fiscally responsible budget. 

Key Speech Highlights:

Budget – Introduced his Enduring Idaho plan framed around balancing the state’s budget, maintaining fiscal discipline amid declining revenues, and right-sizing government spending without raising taxes.

Tax Reform – Said Idaho’s tax system will conform to recent federal tax cuts and that tax relief will put more money in the pockets of seniors and working families and help Idaho compete for jobs and investment.

Elementary and Secondary Education – Committed to protecting K-12 public school funding even in lean fiscal years. Highlighted recent efforts to increase state support for public schools, increase teacher pay, invest in literacy, and expand discretionary funding for local needs.

Government Reform – Described an ongoing focus on cutting red tape and improving government efficiency while noting past efforts to reduce regulations and streamline state.

Workforce Development – Highlighted workforce development through Idaho LAUNCH and other strategies to prepare workers for in-demand jobs.

Rural Communities – Underscored the importance of rural vitality and maintaining water infrastructure investments, along with support for agriculture. Also said his plan includes measures to safeguard access to healthcare, particularly in rural communities.

Indiana

Indiana Governor Mike Braun said the state of the state is strong while highlighting rising wages, job creation, property tax relief, health care affordability, education outcomes, workforce development, and fiscal discipline. Much of his address was focused on affordability, which the governor said is the highest priority. 

Key Speech Highlights:

Energy – Discussed the need to hold the line on utility price hikes, ensure utilities provide services at a just and reasonable rate, and to make sure AI companies pay for the power they need.

Property Tax and Housing – Highlighted historic property tax reform while maintaining funding for local services. Called for reducing regulatory barriers to home construction to expand housing supply and improve homeownership affordability.

Health Care – Emphasized reducing health care costs through transparency and accountability as well as legislation aimed at protecting families from medical debt. Also discussed the need to ensure Medicaid is responsible and sustainable for those who need it the most, including through work requirements.

Education – Highlighted full funding of K–12 education, tuition freezes at public universities for two years, increased starting teacher pay, expanded school choice, improvements in literacy and graduation rates, and proposals to limit cellphone use in schools and strengthen parental involvement.

Childcare – Talked about the need to examine ways to make childcare more affordable and accessible during this legislative session.

Workforce and Economic Development – Highlighted strong private-sector investment and job creation across the state, including major manufacturing and logistics projects. Emphasized workforce training, apprenticeships, and upskilling programs to ensure Hoosiers can access higher-paying jobs.

Public Safety – Highlighted increased penalties for repeat violent offenders and drug traffickers, major drug seizures, a significant reduction in overdose deaths, and support for law enforcement, the Indiana National Guard, and initiatives to protect children and public safety statewide.

Iowa

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said the state of the state is strong, noting it is strong with Iowa’s families, communities, and those who serve. The governor discussed the need to work together to deliver results over the course of the coming year, while focusing on veterans’ services, property tax reform, government efficiency, improving healthcare, and increasing educational options.  

Key Speech Highlights:

Veterans Services – Proposed modernizing the state’s veterans’ benefits delivery system and establishing a performance-based grant program to increase the share of eligible veterans receiving earned benefits.

Property Taxes – Outlined a new proposal to address rising property taxes by capping local government revenue growth, adjusting assessment cycles, freezing property tax bills for qualifying seniors, and creating a tax-deductible savings account for first-time homebuyers.

Government Reform and Efficiency – Highlighted continued efforts to streamline state government, including agency alignment, regulatory reduction, increased transparency in local government spending, and partnerships with private sector technology providers to modernize state systems and improve service delivery.

Health Care – Highlighted expanded investments in cancer prevention and treatment, development of regional cancer care hubs, efforts to strengthen rural health care access and chronic disease management, reforms to federal nutrition assistance programs to prioritize healthy foods, and proposals to remove artificial food dyes from school meals.

Education – Emphasized evidence-based literacy and math instruction, expanded educational choice through universal Education Savings Accounts, increased teacher pay, improved student outcomes, and proposals to ensure per-pupil funding follows students across public schools and that public charter school students have access to concurrent enrollment classes and extracurricular activities.

Kansas

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly began her address reflecting on the major challenges the state faced when she was first elected including the condition of the budget, the need to improve the quality of life for all Kansans, and the importance of changing people’s perception of Kansas. She noted that since that time the state has seen many successes, the state of the state has never been stronger, and the future has never been brighter. Moving forward, the governor called for a continued focus on civility while prioritizing fiscal discipline, strengthening education, investing in mental health, and protecting water resources. 

Key Speech Highlights:

Economic Development and Fiscal Stability – Highlighted recent private sector investments and jobs created while noting successes in balancing the budget, paying down debt, maintaining a strong credit rating, having a large rainy day fund, and providing tax relief.

Education – Reaffirmed her commitment to fully funding public schools while proposing increased investments in special education funding, expanded access to free and reduced-price school meals, and legislation to limit cell phone use during the school day.

Mental Health – Talked about the need to continue to make mental health a priority including more treatment beds, professionals, and crisis response.

Water Supply – Urged the Legislature to act on recommendations from the Water Task Force to develop a comprehensive, long-term water strategy and identify a dedicated funding source to protect Kansas’ water supply for future generations.

Bipartisanship and Civility – Emphasized that major accomplishments during her administration were achieved through bipartisan cooperation, compromise, and respect. Called on legislators to continue governing with civility and focus on long-term outcomes.

Kentucky

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said the state of the commonwealth remains strong; however he noted the commonwealth and the country are facing serious new challenges. In his address, the governor emphasized unity, economic strength, and the need to renew the American Dream through sustained investment in people and communities. 

Key Speech Highlights:

Economic Development – Highlighted new private-sector investment and additional jobs created. Proposed additional funding for site development, large-scale projects, and a new rural economic development fund to ensure job growth reaches all regions of the state.

Housing – Outlined major investments in affordable housing, including disaster recovery housing in Western and Eastern Kentucky, and proposed a new investment in the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to significantly expand housing supply statewide.

Healthcare – Discussed recent investments in healthcare including opening new hospitals and clinics; expanding Medicaid to dental, vision, and hearing; supporting substance abuse treatments; and doubling the number of mental health professionals. Also called for additional funding to lower the cost of healthcare coverage, increase the number of slots for families of children with special needs, nursing student loan forgiveness, and creating a rural hospital fund.

Public Safety – Emphasized efforts to strengthen law enforcement staffing and pay, expand training capacity, reduce recidivism through rehabilitation and reentry programs, and maintain strong emergency response and disaster preparedness capabilities.

Education and Child Care – Proposed pay increases for educators, increased per-pupil funding, additional support for teacher retirement systems, and called for funding universal pre-kindergarten to help improve student readiness.

Human Services – Recommended additional funding to support food banks and creating a new fund to help at-risk Kentuckians pay their utility bills. 

Missouri

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe’s address focused on creating a foundation for growth so that Missouri’s children can inherit a state that is safer, stronger, and full of opportunity. In his address, the governor outlined an agenda centered on restoring balance to state finances, improving public safety, strengthening workforce development, creating new educational opportunities, and supporting agriculture. 

Key Speech Highlights:

Public Safety – Spoke about recent executive orders that helped form his Safer Missouri initiative, partnering with the federal government to crack down on illegal immigration, supporting law enforcement recruitment and retention efforts, funding for a new crime lab, and the need to pass a comprehensive crime bill.

Substance Abuse – Talked about the dangers of fentanyl, increased penalties for drug dealers that kill a person, and funding for fentanyl testing in wastewater systems at schools.

Infrastructure and Economic Development – Discussed the need to invest in rural infrastructure and enhanced efforts to retain and recruit businesses.

Tax Relief – Called for developing a sustainable and comprehensive plan to eventually eliminate the individual income tax, with further income tax cut triggers this session.

Government Reform – Recommended tort reform, reviewing regulations and reducing the regulatory burden, and creating a state version of the federal Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Childcare – Highlighted an executive order to re-write childcare regulations, grant funding to help make childcare more affordable, and ensuring timely payments to childcare providers.

Workforce Development – Proposed increased funding for career and technical centers and establishing the Governor’s Workforce of the Future Challenge to help improve career and technical education programs.

Education – Said that strengthening public education, expanding school choice, and empowering parents is critical. Also called for the establishment of the School Funding Modernization Task Force and increased school safety efforts.

Other – Also discussed the need to support the agriculture industry, constructing new facilities at the Missouri State Fair, providing a statewide retention pay plan increase, additional funding to support expectant and new mothers, and greater support for veterans’ homes.

Nebraska 

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen said the state of the state is as strong as ever, noting recent economic gains, efforts to make state government more efficient, and partnerships with the federal government. In his address, the governor highlighted priorities including tax reform, workforce growth, energy development, health care access, education policy, public safety, and strengthening Nebraska’s long-term fiscal position.

Key Speech Highlights:

Fiscal Management and Tax Policy – Emphasized reducing the tax burden on Nebraskans while restoring long-term budget stability. Highlighted a proposed budget that cuts state spending, delivers additional property tax relief, and maintains strong reserves while avoiding future budget shortfalls.

Economic Growth and Workforce – Emphasized keeping Nebraska open for business through tort reform, regulatory reform, and attracting high-paying jobs.

Energy Development – Highlighted the importance of reliable, affordable electricity to support economic growth, particularly for energy-intensive industries. Called for removing regulatory barriers to allow large power users to build generation capacity.

Public Safety and Corrections – Reaffirmed public safety as a core responsibility of state government, citing investments in law enforcement, corrections alignment, and cooperation with federal partners.

Education – Highlighted efforts to strengthen education outcomes, including reforms to improve classroom discipline, expand education choice, support teachers, and ensure higher education institutions remain focused on academic rigor and workforce preparation.

Agriculture and Natural Resources – Highlighted policies to protect agricultural producers, including strengthening ag data privacy, and supporting ethanol and bioeconomy development.

New York

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said the state of the state is strong, and New York is just getting started. The governor’s 2026 agenda is focused on continuing to make life more affordable, keeping people safe, and expanding opportunities for all New Yorkers. In her address, the governor highlighted recent progress in reducing crime, expanding housing, investing in infrastructure, and strengthening the state’s economy, while outlining priorities to lower costs for families, expand childcare, improve housing affordability, modernize transportation, and ensure government works more efficiently.

Key Speech Highlights:

Childcare and Support for Families – Called for placing New York on a path to universal childcare, expanding childcare assistance, and funding universal pre-K for four-year-olds by 2028.

Public Safety –Talked about measures to strengthen responses to various crimes, enhance subway safety, expand mental health crisis response teams, and address emerging threats such as ghost guns.

Housing – Emphasized investments to preserve existing housing, unlock new development, and expand manufactured housing.

Transportation and Infrastructure – Highlighted major capital investments, including advancing the Second Avenue Subway and expanding green space access.

Energy and Environment – Discussed expanded clean energy generation including nuclear power, protections for ratepayers from large energy users, and investments to improve climate resilience.

Other – Noted measures to eliminate state income taxes on tips, freeze college tuition, invest in workforce development, protect children online, defend New Yorkers from federal overreach, and modernize government operations. 

North Dakota

North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong focused his address on a singular priority, implementation of the Rural Health Transformation Program, while emphasizing fiscal responsibility, rural community stability, and long-term improvements to health outcomes. The governor outlined how the state plans to deploy a historic infusion of federal funding to strengthen rural health care delivery and position North Dakota as the healthiest state in the nation.

Key Speech Highlights:

Rural Health Transformation Program – Centered the address on federal funds awarded for the first year of the Rural Health Transformation Program. Outlined a four-pillar strategy focused on promoting wellness and healthy lifestyles, stabilizing the rural health care workforce, expanding access to care through telehealth and mobile services, and using data and technology to improve care delivery.

Health Care Workforce – Emphasized retaining and supporting health care workers in rural communities through training, support, and retention grants. Highlighted collaboration with providers, tribal partners, and community leaders to address long-standing primary care shortages affecting most rural counties.

Access to Care – Highlighted plans to bring health services closer to home by expanding telehealth, transportation options, virtual medical rooms, and mobile clinics to serve hard-to-reach populations and underserved areas.

Technology and Data – Called for building a smarter, more responsive health care system by connecting technology and data across providers to improve coordination, efficiency, and patient outcomes.

Fiscal Stewardship – Emphasized responsible use of federal funds, noting the state will not construct new buildings, create unsustainable programs, or add permanent staffing obligations. 

Rhode Island

Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee said that regarding the state of the state, Rhode Island is strong, steady, and working together is building a future worth fighting for. The governor added in the years ahead, the state will keep fighting for the future Rhode Island deserves, keep building, maintain a growing economy, help children reach their full potential, put more money back in families’ pockets and raise incomes, and will work together to oppose harmful federal policies. In his address, the governor highlighted an Affordability for All agenda, while also discussing the need to invest in education, infrastructure, and healthcare. 

Key Speech Highlights:

Tax Reform – As part of his Affordability for All agenda, called for eliminating the state tax on Social Security, creating the state’s first permanent Child Tax Credit, and rolling back last year’s gas tax increase.

Energy and Utility Costs – Highlighted steps to cut energy bills including reforming and reducing the 25 percent of energy bills that comes from state programs and taxes.

Health Care – Recommended holding private health insurers accountable by setting enforceable caps on costs, creating the state’s first Marketplace Affordability program, directing additional funds to boost support to hospitals, investing dollars to ensure the state complies with new federal rules and help Medicaid recipients stay insured, and using federal funding to expand primary care, behavioral health, and drug treatment programs.

Higher Education – Proposed making the Hope Scholarship permanent for every student, no matter their income.

Infrastructure – Said his budget proposal will include bonding to keep Rhode Island building including an economic development bond to expand maritime and defense infrastructure, a higher education bond to support new or upgraded facilities, a career and technical education (CTE) bond to build and upgrade CTE facilities, and a housing bond to boost supply and drive down costs. The governor also discussed other steps to increase housing production as well as efforts to stabilize public transit.

Human Services – Called for doubling the state grant to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and adding funding to Planned Parenthood.

South Dakota

South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden outlined an Opportunity Agenda centered on keeping the state strong, safe, and free, while emphasizing fiscal discipline, economic growth, public safety, educational investments, and rural healthcare access. In his address, the governor stressed the need to recommit to civility, work together, and focus on small-government, commonsense conservative principles. 

Key Speech Highlights:

Property Tax Relief – Proposed a new option allowing counties to replace their share of owner-occupied property taxes with a half-cent sales tax. Announced plans to host property tax town halls across the state.

Economic Development and Workforce – Highlighted South Dakota’s strong economic performance and proposed establishing a State Apprenticeship Agency to expand workforce training opportunities and better align apprenticeships with business needs. Also said national security will be the next major focus of economic development efforts.

Rural Health Care – Discussed the state’s Rural Health Transformation Plan designed to bring more services to rural and remote areas. Outlined investments to expand behavioral health services, integrate care delivery, bolster the health care workforce, and support rural hospitals and emergency medical services.
Agriculture and Rural Communities – Emphasized the importance of agriculture to the state’s economy and announced continued support for the Keep Farmers Farming initiative to help farm and ranch families with estate and transition planning to preserve family operations across generations.

Infrastructure and Cybersecurity – Highlighted the work of the GRIT task force and proposed expanding the SecureSD program to provide cybersecurity support to local governments and nonprofit utilities. Emphasized infrastructure investments to strengthen economic resilience and disaster preparedness.

Public Safety – Highlighted Operation Prairie Thunder, including expanded Highway Patrol saturation patrol and support for ICE, investments in law enforcement staffing, and efforts to combat drug trafficking and violent crime. Proposed additional protections for law enforcement officers and continued reforms to improve the correctional system.

Education and Workforce Preparation – Emphasized improvements in reading and math outcomes, teacher apprenticeship pathways, and career and technical education investments. Highlighted support for school choice and expanded options for students and families.

Vermont

Vermont Governor Phil Scott urged legislators to follow through on education transformation passed last year, saying the state has an obligation to fix a system that is driving up costs, widening inequities, and falling short for students and teachers. The governor emphasized that education reform is essential to affordability and Vermont’s economic future, warning that rising education spending is crowding out other priorities and making it harder for families, workers, and retirees to stay in the state. 

Key Speech Highlights:

Education Reform – Said Act 73 passed last year is a comprehensive reform that must be fully implemented this session, including expanding pre-K, increasing equity in course offerings, expanding career and technical education, and addressing disparities in teacher pay.

Teacher Support & Workforce – Stressed that reform is meant to support teachers who are often underpaid, overworked, and stretched across multiple roles while also pointing to a large pay gap in average teacher pay. 

Education Costs & Property Taxes – Noted pre-K through 12 education spending has substantially grown in recent years and is projected to grow further, leading to another double-digit property tax increase. Said inefficiencies in the system are consuming resources that could otherwise be used for housing, childcare, roads, public safety, and tax relief.

Governance & District Structure – Called for fewer school districts serving more students to reduce duplication, improve accountability, and deliver more consistent opportunities statewide. 

Affordability & Budget Outlook – Said families are struggling with the cost of living and rising property taxes while one-time federal pandemic recovery funds are gone and future federal support is uncertain. Stated his upcoming budget will be funded without new taxes and will require difficult choices.

Washington

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson said that in spite of recent events such as historic flooding, the state of the state remains strong. The governor highlighted the state’s triple-A bond rating, economic growth, and the number of people moving to the state as signs of its strength. To keep the state’s growth going, the governor said the state needs to invest in infrastructure, make the tax system fairer, and continue progress on addressing the housing crisis. 

Key Speech Highlights:

Infrastructure – Proposed historic investments in infrastructure without raising taxes, including for bridge preservation, road paving, and significant new funding to modernize and expand the state ferry fleet.

Housing – Recommended a supplemental investment, the largest housing investment in state history, to build and preserve affordable housing, support first-time homebuyers, and accelerate housing.

Tax Reform – Called for a millionaires’ tax on annual income above $1 million, expansion of the Working Families Tax Credit, reduced taxes for small businesses, and direct utility bill relief for qualifying households.

Other – Discussed the creation of the West Coast Health Alliance, expanding the State Home Energy Assistance Program, utilizing a donation to invest in free early learning programs, cutting down permit and license processing times, and increasing the number of students who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

West Virginia

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey said the state of the state is getting stronger and the state is more prepared, determined and is focused on building a future where families can thrive, workers can succeed, businesses can grow, and children can achieve their dreams. In his address, the governor highlighted priorities including energy development, workforce growth, infrastructure investment, health care access, tax relief, government efficiency, and improving health outcomes for West Virginians.

Key Speech Highlights:

Economic Development – Highlighted new private-sector investment and projected job creation, supported by site readiness, infrastructure improvements, and a new microgrids law designed to attract large-scale industrial and energy projects.

Energy Development – Emphasized West Virginia’s role as America’s energy state and outlined the “50 by 50” plan to more than triple power generation capacity by 2050. Discussed progress securing new energy investments, prioritizing coal, natural gas, nuclear, and other reliable baseload sources.

Workforce and Education – Highlighted workforce readiness initiatives including micro-credentialing, portable benefits, expanded licensing reciprocity, and investments in higher education and technical training. Called for continued focus on literacy, digital skills, vocational education, and workforce preparation.

Infrastructure and Broadband – Talked about investments in roads, bridges, water and sewer systems, and transportation infrastructure, including a proposed supplement for road and bridge repairs. Emphasized securing federal broadband funding to expand high-speed internet access statewide.

Health Care and Rural Health – Discussed the state’s Rural Health Transformation award while emphasizing prevention, wellness, workforce stabilization, and expanded access to care in rural communities.
Fiscal Management– Highlighted fiscal restraint, agency consolidation, and budget reforms, including limiting PEIA premium increases to three percent.

Tax Relief – Called for a 10 percent personal income tax cut and conformity with federal tax changes.
Public Safety and Emergency Management – Highlighted efforts to reduce drug overdoses, strengthen border and drug enforcement partnerships, support law enforcement and the National Guard, and invest in flood preparedness and emergency response systems.