News

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy: 1/22

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs’ 2026 State of the State address doubled down on the “Arizona Promise” she made during her signature address from a year earlier: “to make the Grand Canyon State a bastion of security, opportunity, and freedom for whoever is willing to come here, work hard, and make a good life for themselves and their families.”  

“Our progress is undeniable,” she said. “Still, far too many Arizonans are struggling to keep up with the cost of housing, food, health care, and utilities… now is the time to back up that talk.”

• Housing supply: Over the last three years, Arizona broke ground on more housing projects than any other three-year period in its history. To build on this momentum, Governor Hobbs proposed the creation of a $2.5 million Housing Acceleration Fund to unlock lower-cost financing for affordable housing projects. “For every dollar we invest,” Governor Hobbs said, “we’ll generate up to ten dollars to finance projects that house Arizonans.”  She also proposed creating an Arizona Affordability Fund to help working families cover utility bills, weatherize homes to reduce energy costs, and support affordable housing—seeded with $20 million and funded long-term by a $3.50 nightly fee on short-term rentals.
• Water: To continue growing while also addressing affordability, Governor Hobbs said securing Arizona’s water is critical. She pointed to the new Ag-to-Urban Alternative Assured Water Supply program that designated water for over 60,000 new homes as a prime example. To curb groundwater over-pumping in the Ranegras Plain Basin, she announced a new Active Management Area (AMA) in La Paz County. She also proposed earmarking $30 million for a new Colorado River Protection Fund to “supercharge” the state's water conservation efforts.
• Border and public safety: “Security also means economic stability,” Governor Hobbs said as she highlighted the state’s anti-cartel efforts through Operation Desert Guardian. Having seized more than $105 million worth of drugs, 16,000 pounds of fentanyl, 1,200 illegal firearms, and arrested more than fourteen hundred criminals since its inception, Governor Hobbs called on the Arizona Legislature to support her bid to have the federal government repay the state for over $700 million it has spent on border security since 2021.
• Disaster response: In a similar vein, Governor Hobbs urged bipartisan pressure on the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency to reverse its denial of emergency assistance for flood-impacted communities in Globe and Miami, Arizona.

Read a full transcript here, or watch a recording here.

California Governor Gavin Newsom focused his 2026 State of the State address – his first in front of the legislature in six years – on the Golden State’s opportunity to build a safer, more affordable future.    

“California’s success is not by chance — it’s by design,” he said. “The work we do, building a California where every person can see themselves, is never-ending. So we continue on because, years from now, we can tell our children we did not settle for the world as it was. We can say with pride: we built something worthy of them. We built the future.”

• Jobs and workforce development: To sustain California’s position as the world’s fourth-largest economy, Governor Newsom pointed to two new workforce initiatives: the Jobs First regional economic blueprint—built around 13 economic and workforce development strategies aligned with universities and trade schools—and the newly completed Master Plan for Career Education, designed to create seamless, debt-free pathways from school to high-paying jobs. He also noted that the state has already surpassed its apprenticeship goal, adding 600,000 “earn-and-learn” opportunities.
• Housing & affordability: Citing 61 housing reform bills he signed last year, Governor Newsom urged lawmakers to build on recent momentum by lowering construction costs through new building methods and technology—while keeping reforms “worker-centered.”
• Infrastructure & permitting: With $109 billion currently invested in more than 28,000 separate projects that employ over 200,000 people – including the first above-ground water storage in 50 years and the world’s largest battery solar storage project – Governor Newsom called on the state legislature to continue to leverage the state’s fast-track permitting for major water and energy projects, and to advance the construction of the nation’s first high-speed rail project, for which 50 major structures and more than 60 miles of guideway have already been completed.
• Mental health & homelessness: Having contributed to a 9% reduction in the number of unsheltered individuals last year, Governor Newsom supported the expansion of the state’s Homekey and Project Roomkey programs that convert hotels, motels, and other properties into longer-term housing. He also spoke about redirecting over $1 billion in annual mental health funding to housing and treatment for people living on the streets.
• Insurance & wildfire recovery: With the 2026 State of the State marking the first anniversary of the LA Wildfires, Governor Newsom emphasized the need to enforce home-hardening insurance discounts and insurer participation in high-risk areas. He also proposed the creation of a rebuilding fund to bridge gaps between insurance payouts and rebuilding costs. 

Read a full transcript here, or watch a recording here.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis’ 2026 State of the State address, his last as Governor, reflected on the many successes he, his staff, and the state legislature have brought about over the last seven years.

“When I ran to serve as your Governor, I promised to be bold - heck, I made a lot of promises – that together, we’ve turned into a reality for Colorado,” he said. “It is with your expertise and commitment to service that we’ve achieved even bigger and bolder than we could have imagined… and there’s more to be done.”

• Housing: While Governor Polis recognized the substantial reforms the state has enacted to address housing affordability, “there’s more to be done,” he said. With that in mind, he supported The Housing Opportunities Made Easier, or HOME Act, to enable housing development on underutilized land through partnerships with higher education, nonprofits, transit agencies, school districts, and housing authorities. He also supported efforts to make it easier to subdivide and sell your property, and reduce rates for homeowners' insurance by making hail-resistant roofs more affordable and reducing fire risks.
• Transit: Coloradans spend too much time and money commuting, Governor Polis said. To provide Coloradans with a “world-class” transit authority, Governor Polis’ proposed budget would provide long- term sustainable funding to expand the popular Bustang service statewide. He also highlighted the state's work to develop daily, year-round passenger rail service throughout the state. As for costs, he outlined an action plan to improve road safety and lower auto insurance costs.
• Workforce development: With 110 programs operated by more than 20 divisions, offices, and units across seven state departments, Governor Polis said the state’s workforce development system is a “maze.” He proposed a unified department to serve as a one-stop shop for Coloradans to access high-quality skills, training, apprenticeships, and education.
• Environment and natural resources: “Our treasured public lands are part of the fabric of who we are in Colorado,” Governor Polis said. To “protect this hallowed place for generations to come,” he supported earmarking more than $120 million in new annual funding for the care and conservation of public lands (including pine beetle mitigation), as well as $127 million in new funding to support local water projects through the Colorado Water Plan. He also voiced his support for a bill to protect pollinators by addressing risks from certain pesticides.
• Energy: “Now is the time to double down on investment and innovation to build more of what’s needed to power our homes and businesses, including power lines and power plants,” Governor Polis said. To do so, he proposed improving statewide permitting regulations for energy and transmission projects and scaling emerging options like geothermal and carbon capture.

Read a full transcript here, or watch a recording here.

Hawai’i Governor Josh Green: 1/26

Idaho Governor Brad Little’s 2026 State of the State address emphasized the Gem State’s responsible, common-sense approach to governing. He also rolled out his “Enduring Idaho” budget plan, which revolves around fiscal responsibility and smart state-level budgeting to set Idaho up for success now and into the future.

“Idaho is evolving,” said Governor Little. “However, through the change we must commit ourselves to preserving our state as the place where opportunity thrives. We must dedicate ourselves to carrying forward the values that define us, making sure they endure for generations to come.”

• Education: For Governor Little, education has always been a top priority. In his Enduring Idaho plan, public education funding will always be maintained, even as other areas of state government look to shed unnecessary spending. “Idaho’s public schools are the heart and soul of our communities – and our children are our future – which is why, even in a year of reduced revenues, schools remain our top priority.”
• Workforce: started in 2023, the Idaho Launch program has proven to be an effective workforce development tool, and Governor Little remains committed to building a talent pipeline in Idaho, for Idaho. Thanks to the program and other workforce initiatives, more Idaho high school graduates are staying in the state and building a stronger workforce than ever before.
• Health care: Governor Little celebrated nearly $1 billion in new federal investment for rural health care across the state, which will improve health care affordability and access for Idahoans. He also touted new state investments to support graduate medical education and to address the state’s physician shortage.
• Water: Governor Little's Enduring Idaho plan also prioritizes the state’s water resources and maintains investments in crucial water infrastructure. “Water is the lifeblood of Idaho’s economy and our way of life,” said Governor Little. “By continuing our water infrastructure investments, we are standing with Idaho’s farmers and ranchers — the people who feed and fuel our state. This funding reflects a long-term commitment to rural Idaho, ensuring we protect our water resources, strengthen our agricultural economy, and keep our communities resilient for generations to come.”

Read a full transcript here, or watch a recording here.

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly’s 2026 State of the State address highlighted the Sunflower State’s remarkable economic turnaround over the last decade – a revival she attributed to civility and bipartisanship.  

“We were able to get our state back on track because we showed that civility can still exist in our politics, that you can get a whole lot done when you work with others,” she said. “That spirit of civility must endure in the months ahead and years ahead, as the challenges we face will only get bigger.”

• Education: Governor Kelly said her educational priorities include continuing full funding for public schools and strengthening early literacy efforts through the Blueprint for Literacy. She also proposed increasing special education funding, which the legislature approved $120 million for last year.
• Mental health: “Join me in making mental health a real priority this session,” Governor Kelly said as she called on the legislature to approve additional investments in mental health, including more treatment capacity, workforce, and crisis response.
• Water: To address the state’s water crisis, Governor Kelly called on the legislature to support the Water Task Force, which she helped create last year, with a comprehensive, long-term strategy and a dedicated funding source.

Read a full transcript here, or watch a recording here.

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen’s 2026 State of the State address focused on his efforts to make the Government more efficient.   

Education: To do so, he called for the creation of a blue-ribbon commission to recommend major reforms for the state’s K–12 funding formula known as TEEOSA, as well as legislation to increase per-student foundation aid.

Water: To eliminate duplicative overhead, enhance collaboration, and streamline the state’s stewardship of its natural resources and environment, Governor Pillen proposed merging the Department of Environment and Energy with the Department of Natural Resources into a new Department of Water, Energy, and Environment.

Read a full transcript here, or watch a recording here.

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham: 1/20

North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong: 1/21

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt: 2/2

Utah Governor Spencer Cox: 1/22

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson delivered his 2026 State of the State address, his first as the Chief Executive of The Evergreen State, on January 13. While acknowledging the challenges that lie ahead, including recovering from devastating flooding in December, he framed those challenges as historic opportunities to improve the state.     

“I’ve been thinking about history lately,” he said. “It seems to me that history works in different ways.  And historic events for a state come in two forms — historical events that happen TO us. And the history that we create… In the next two months, let’s create history — to make the state of our state even stronger.”  

• Infrastructure: With 80 bridges in “poor” condition and more potholes than anywhere else in the country, Governor Ferguson proposed more than $1 billion for bridge maintenance, $164 million to re-pave hundreds of miles of road this summer, and $756 million over the next decade — the largest investment in maintenance and preservation in over two decades – all without raising taxes. He also proposed an additional $1 billion to build three more ferries and replace the state’s aging fleet.
• Housing: To build on the progress the Washington legislature made last year in terms of addressing the state’s housing crisis, Governor Ferguson proposed a $244 million investment in affordable housing — the largest-ever supplemental budget investment in housing – that will build and protect thousands of affordable housing units, make it easier for first-time home buyers to enter the market, and accelerate the process to build housing. He also said he is looking forward to signing House Bill 2151, which will create more affordable housing by making it easier for pre-made modular housing to meet building standards.
• Utility: To help Washingtonians meet rising energy costs, Governor Ferguson proposed a one-time $200 household utility bill credit for 125,000 families and $33 million to expand the State Home Energy Assistance Program, which provides utility bill assistance to thousands of households.
• Education: With a $1 billion grant from the Ballmer Group, Governor Ferguson announced that the state will invest in free early learning programs, adding up to 10,000 additional spots for kids. He also supported efforts to expand eligibility for free early learning programs to military families. “With these actions, and others, we can make this short session long on affordability — and make a real difference for Washingtonians,” he said.
• Wildfire: To ensure that local fire departments have access to air resources to fight wildland fires, he supported the bipartisan House Bill 2104.
• Permitting: During his inauguration, Governor Ferguson said, “Our mission must be to speed up government.” To do so, he signed an Executive Order to improve response times by refunding permit fees if responses were delayed. He is now supporting a bill to put this refund policy into state law.

Read a full transcript here, or watch a recording here.

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon: 2/9