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.

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.