State of the States 2026: Governors Balance Re-election, Tech

Tech continues to underpin many discussions at the core of some of our most timely national challenges — the ethics of AI, security of personal data, integrity of elections. But 39 gubernatorial seats are up for grabs this year, including 21 incumbent governors who are term-limited or not seeking re-election. In practice that means that annual State of the State addresses in 2026 tended to focus on critical issues affecting Americans every day, like affordability, housing, health care and education, rather than the next great innovations.

Of course, that’s not to say that tech doesn’t touch those areas — our daily coverage at GovTech proves it does — but many of this year’s gubernatorial speeches were reflective of accomplishments during multiterm administrations, as well as the impacts federal policy is having at the state and local levels.

But perennial technology issues persisted. Broadband remains top of mind for many governors, like Gov. Kay Ivey in Alabama, who applauded how far her state has come in connectivity and pointed to a plan in place to get 100 percent of the state connected. Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer praised the work the state’s Department of Technology and Information has done to get high-speed Internet to nearly three-quarters of state residents. And Gov. Janet Mills, at the end of her second term, pointed to the Maine Connectivity Authority, the state’s broadband agency, for its success in making it so that “right now, every person who wants an Internet connection has access to one.”

School cellphone bans were a hot topic again in this year’s addresses, in states like Kansas, Missouri and New Jersey, where governors have called for “bell to bell” restrictions on phones during the school day. Also of note were concerns around data centers, which several governors cite as essential to innovation, but like Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs said, must “pay their fair share for the [resources] they use.”

A few governors did tip their hats to the hard work of modernizing government. Gov. Mike Dunleavy pointed to the launch of the myAlaska app, which offers mobile driver’s licenses, with hundreds more state applications to come. Similarly, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis praised the progress on his state’s myColorado app. In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul neatly summed up the work of the IT team in her state: “This year, we’ll also eliminate outdated and onerous regulations and leverage cutting-edge technology to make government work better.”

And AI is still a hot topic nationwide. Outgoing New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy pointed to his state’s leading AI work from the newly minted New Jersey Innovation Authority, while Alaska’s Gov. Dunleavy looked ahead to advances in AI to improve agriculture technology, prevent crime and eliminate disease.

In Maine, Gov. Mills gave a similarly optimistic nod to AI, although she was cautious. Looking ahead 50 years, she said she hopes that “artificial intelligence will be commonplace, but will never replace the human touch or the human heart.”

Following is more detailed coverage of all State of the State speeches given so far in 2026. We’ll continue to update this story as more become available.

Alabama

Address date: Jan. 13, 2026
Stars: 3
To sum it up: Technology came up throughout Alabama’s 2026 State of the State address, appearing across a range of policy areas rather than under a single, consolidated technology strategy as Gov. Kay Ivey delivered her ninth and final annual speech. Broadband expansion was featured as a foundational priority, with the governor pointing to Alabama’s improved national standing and reiterating the goal of achieving full statewide Internet access. Ivey also directly addressed cybersecurity as an essential government function. Cyber personnel were included among public safety roles slated for proposed pay raises, with the governor acknowledging growing digital threats alongside traditional safety concerns.

In education, technology was positioned as a workforce driver. The address highlighted Alabama’s top-five national ranking in computer science education and referenced the expansion of specialty schools, including a cyber technology and engineering school, placing an emphasis on technical skills as part of long-term economic readiness. Ivey also touched on technology governance and regulation. The address cited the FOCUS Act, which limits cellphone use in classrooms, and proposed new restrictions on screen time for young children in publicly funded early learning centers — signaling continued attention to how technology is used, particularly among students.

In public safety, the launch of a statewide flood notification system and calls for a comprehensive resilience plan pointed to the use of digital tools in emergency management and disaster preparedness.

Read the governor’s speech here.

Alaska

Address date: Jan. 22, 2026
Stars: 4
To sum it up: Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s last State of the State address touched on a range of technology initiatives, from emergency response to modernization, energy and the potential of emerging technologies. After mentioning that the state experienced 85 state and federal disaster declarations in the seven years since he took office, Dunleavy lauded the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities for using drones, GoPros and remote Starlink connection to complete assessments for 35 communities in three days. When talking about resource development, he mentioned data centers, nuclear power, carbon capture and storage technologies, and emerging energy sources such as tidal and sustainable aviation fuels. He also said his administration worked to modernize information systems that reduced processing time for licenses at the state commerce department, moved from paper to online applications at the Division of Public Assistance, launched the myAlaska mobile app that will soon offer dozens of state services, migrated more than 1,100 state applications to the Microsoft cloud system, and started offering mobile driver’s licenses.

After praising the federal government for funding infrastructure for oil and gas production, Dunleavy mentioned permitting for transmission and broadband projects, talked about a preventative maintenance system for ferries, and said his administration submitted legislation to support new technologies and training for technical careers.

Toward the end of his speech, Dunleavy said he expects advances in AI to help eliminate disease, make food production more efficient via agriculture technology, and make crime prevention more proactive, vaguely recommending that Alaska embrace AI and robotics, rather than fearing them.

Read the governor’s speech here.

Arizona

Address date: Jan. 12, 2026
Stars: 1
To sum it up: Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs used her State of the State address to draw distinctions between the Grand Canyon State and the federal government, which Hobbs said is paralyzed by partisan politics. She pointed to steps Arizona has taken to secure the southern border through initiatives like Operation Desert Guardian, an undertaking that has seized illegal drugs and guns.

She then pivoted to call attention to other initiatives like Arizona’s new Ag-to-Urban program, earmarking water for more than 60,000 new homes in Arizona. She referred to it as a future of “smart growth” that both protects groundwater and increases housing at lower costs.

Hobbs is proposing a $30 million Colorado River Protection Fund to increase the state’s conservation efforts. As part of this proposal, the governor wants the data center industry to “pay their fair share for the water they use.” She also proposed eliminating the data center tax exemption, state policy approved more than a decade ago to incentive the development of data centers in the state. The time, she said, has come to end what Dobbs described as a “$38 million corporate handout.”

Read the governor's speech here.

Arkansas

Address date: TBD

California

Address date: Jan. 8, 2026
Stars: 2
To sum it up: In the last State of the State address of his administration, Gov. Gavin Newsom wasted no time attacking the sharp criticisms of the state and his leadership. Where technology was concerned, the governor highlighted several broad-scope efforts to bolster high-tech and biotech jobs — namely, career pipeline programs and investments in university research, like the one he announced in October focused on quantum and fusion technology.

The governor noted the state’s leadership in AI, highlighting recent guardrails signed into law. He called for encouraging innovation while discouraging recklessness.

“The bottom line is the tech genie is out of the bottle,” Newsom said. “The question is not whether change is happening; it is. The question is what values will guide us into this new frontier.”

Newsom called on lawmakers to reauthorize the state’s California Competes Tax Credit program, which was designed to offer incentives for job-creating businesses, for another five years as part of the 2026-27 fiscal year budget. That budget, he said, will include a $248.3 billion general fund and an additional $42.3 billion in previously unforecasted revenues. Newsom said there will be $7.3 billion earmarked to rebuild the state’s reserves.

Read the governor’s address here.

Colorado

Address date: Jan. 15, 2026
Stars: 4
To sum it up: Colorado Gov. Jared Polis’ 2026 State of the State address focused on emerging technology and better serving residents and visitors of the Centennial State.

Polis highlighted the state’s national recognition as the “epicenter of the quantum computing technology.” Polis likened AI’s potential to that of the Internet in its early days, underlining the importance of its leadership with this technology but balancing that with protections for Coloradans.

He touted the state’s work around data-driven leadership, including a dashboard sharing monthly progress on his “Wildly Important Goals” across agencies, and praised the advancement of the myColorado app. A state dashboard also tracks student readiness in real time, delivering improved oversight.

Technology plays a role in the state’s sustainability efforts, illustrated by an increase in electric vehicles on the road from 18,000 in 2019 to 204,000 today resulting from policy. Coloradans’ share of energy obtained from low-cost clean sources has grown by nearly 75 percent during Polis’ tenure. He also underlined the need for emerging technologies like geothermal and carbon capture to achieve 100 percent clean energy. Looking ahead, Polis said he hopes to continue to support blockchain and cryptocurrency, as well as technology innovation.

The speech wasn’t entirely focused on emerging technology, though; Polis discussed education and affordability, too. Accomplishments outside of technology include delivering free kindergarten and preschool and achieving the lowest childhood poverty in the nation.

Read the governor’s speech here.

Connecticut

Address date: Feb. 4, 2026

Delaware

Address date: Jan. 22, 2026
Stars: 3
To sum it up: The most substantive references to technology in Gov. Matt Meyer’s second State of the State address had to do with energy and broadband infrastructure. He said the state should pursue wind and nuclear energy projects, talked about partnering with the state’s Nuclear Energy Feasibility Task Force for energy solutions, and specifically lauded the Delaware Department of Technology and Information for its work in reaching 72 percent of the state’s residents with high-speed Internet access.

Several other references to digital tools or major technology policies were scattered throughout his speech. On the subject of innovation in classrooms, Meyers mentioned the use of literacy screeners to flag challenges for students in grades K-3. When discussing the need to cut red tape for housing, he briefly mentioned that the state is digitizing approvals. He also mentioned the need to pass new laws to modernize the state’s banking regulations for the digital world, and in the part of his speech about the “innovation economy,” he credited the energy company Aternium with its work in hydrogen fuel and the tech company Qnity Electronics for manufacturing microchip parts.

Read the governor’s address here.

Florida

Address date: Jan. 13, 2026
Stars: 1
To sum it up: Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is term-limited, spent most of his last State of the State address looking backward — at his tenure as governor, at the tenures of his perceived political rivals across the country and back to the founding of the nation. He did mention technology once, when he touched on the topic of AI. DeSantis highlighted the emerging technology as having immense power, not only for positive applications in areas such as health care and the military, but for negative reasons as well, such as job loss and mental health impacts on youth. He said government has a responsibility to ensure that new technology aligns with American values and follows good moral and ethical trajectories.

Aside from that, DeSantis focused on how much he has shrunk government in the Sunshine State, whether it be through decreasing taxes, “eliminating [diversity, equity and inclusion]” in higher education or “banning” sanctuary cities. DeSantis highlighted increased environmental restoration efforts in the Everglades while calling on legislators to help fight the “creep of Sharia law” and boasted about keeping genders separate in youth sports.

Watch the governor’s speech here.

Georgia

Address date: Jan. 15, 2026
Stars: 1
To sum it up: In his final State of the State speech, term-limited Gov. Brian Kemp praised the work his administration has accomplished over the past seven years. While mentions of technology were scarce, he did note that tech is being used to deliver state services more effectively during a discussion of investments Georgia has made in its state workforce, reducing employee turnover by more than 25 percent.

Kemp instead spent time touting the work Georgia has done to address the high cost of living, providing tax relief and savings totaling almost $9.7 billion, plus a one-time $1 billion tax rebate in this year’s budget, and a reduction in personal and corporate income tax rates. He said his administration has focused on economic development and job creation, championing both large and small businesses. Kemp also pointed to investments in school safety, teacher pay and improved retirement benefits for law enforcement, as well as legislation that’s helping to protect against human trafficking and gang violence.

Read the governor’s address here.

Hawaii

Address date: Jan 26, 2026
Stars 0
To sum it up: Gov. Josh Green did not directly mention technology in his State of the State speech, and instead focused on topics like affordability, housing and homelessness, and health care. He called attention to policy changes the state has taken to improve climate resiliency with efforts like the “Green Fee,” a dedicated revenue source to fund environmental protection and “climate action.” The state is on course to generate more than $100 million a year to invest in conservation, resilience and other steps to address the region’s changing climate.

The state is still recovering from the devastating 2023 fire in Maui that destroyed more than 2,200 structures. In its aftermath came the Hawaii Maui Interim Housing Plan, a $500 million effort to build more than 3,000 housing units, along with more than 1,200 temporary units, and providing direct rental assistance for more than 5,600 displaced residents. In total, the Maui recovery effort represents the largest coordinated humanitarian response in Hawaii state history, and creation of more housing is underway. Green did mention investment in wildfire and wind sensors to help with early alerting ahead of future fires.

Read the governor’s speech here.

Idaho

Address date: Jan. 12, 2026
Stars: 1
To sum it up: Gov. Brad Little’s State of the State address focused on economic opportunities for Idaho communities. A central priority is Idaho LAUNCH, a workforce training program in the state. Through the program, Idahoans receive grants to support workforce training, and it includes an online career and training research hub.

DOGE, or the Department of Government Efficiency, has inspired parallel efforts at the state level to reduce government waste. Idaho’s efforts in this area through the Code Cleanup Act last year resulted in a report calling for the elimination of 145,000 words from state law, Little said.

In the name of fiscal responsibility, the governor unveiled the ENDURING IDAHO plan for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, which includes the elimination of $10 million in state funding for the Idaho Digital Learning Academy, a state-sponsored online learning program. On the state economy, Little touted a low unemployment rate — ranked 18th by the Bureau of Labor Statistics — leadership in personal income growth and economic activity, and more jobs.

Little also talked about security. The Idaho National Laboratory, which has long advanced nuclear energy research, is taking a lead role in nuclear energy resurgence, Little said, to help improve energy security and protect critical systems from cyber threats. Cybersecurity is a priority for Idaho technology officials.

Read the governor’s speech here.

Illinois

Address date: TBD

Indiana

Address date: Jan. 14, 2026
Stars: 0
To sum it up: Gov. Mike Braun’s State of the State speech this year was light on technology, but it included mentions of data center growth in Indiana, which he promised would not impact residents’ power bills. It also included his support for restrictions on cellphone use in schools. Rather than tech, Braun instead focused on the work his administration accomplished in its first year to make the state a more affordable place to live. He cited “historic” property tax cuts that will save Hoosiers $1.5 billion over the next three years, as well as efforts to bring down the cost of health care, homebuying and child care. Braun also praised state wages, which he said are growing faster than national averages, and an increased number of jobs available in Indiana.

Read the governor’s speech here.

Iowa

Address date: Jan. 13, 2026
Stars: 2
To sum it up: In her final Condition of the State address, Gov. Kim Reynolds mentioned a few modernization projects and technology partnerships. She spoke about updating state systems and improving services, specifically mentioning that the state is working with Amazon Web Services to consolidate over 50 call centers into a single AI-enabled one. She also touted a collaboration with Google Public Sector to build a new child welfare system, encouraged citizens to find budget information on the state’s website, and used the word “modernize” in reference to the state’s Veterans Affairs compensation system, although it was unclear whether that would be a technology upgrade.

Elsewhere in her speech, Reynolds talked about shared services, investments in cancer prevention, local care centers, research at the University of Iowa, improving math and literacy rates, political efforts to reduce federal oversight of education, and investments in charter school options.

Read the governor’s speech here.

Kansas

Address date: Jan. 13, 2026
Stars: 2
To sum it up: Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s final State of the State address was largely a reflection on the last seven years she has spent in office, and she made several notable mentions of technology. A major area of focus was the fiscal and economic progress the state has made in that time, like modernizing the Kansas unemployment insurance system. Another accomplishment was the creation of the Office of Rural Prosperity to focus on the economic needs of the state’s rural areas, including connecting more than 117,000 homes and businesses to high-speed Internet. Other economic highlights included cutting more than $1 billion annually in taxes and fully funding Kansas public schools.

While praising the state’s schools and educators, and especially investment in special education amid a lack of federal funding, Kelly also pointed to concerns around device use and social media for kids. She said that smartphones in schools make it harder for teachers to teach and for students to learn, and they negatively impact mental health. Kelly then discussed the mental health of all residents and noted that Kansas was one of the first states to put the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline into use.

Read the governor’s speech here.

Kentucky

Address date: Jan. 7, 2026
Stars: 0
To sum it up: Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear focused his annual address on jobs and economic development, health care, education and public safety. He emphasized several large private-sector investments that he said would strengthen multiple sectors of the state’s economy, and he highlighted a recent investment from Ford Motor Company that he said could lead to the production of an affordable electric vehicle capable of competing nationally. Beshear also pointed to a major investment from General Matter in Kentucky’s energy sector, which he said could bring nuclear power to the state.

Elsewhere, the Kentucky governor highlighted the launch of a new mobile health clinic aimed at improving access to care, especially in underserved areas. He also said his budget fully funds Medicaid coverage in the state. Turning to infrastructure, he celebrated the completion of a 23-yearlong corridor project, upgrades to 660 bridges, and 20,000 miles of road improvements. Beshear emphasized the importance of public education, noting increased per-student education funding and additional investments in teacher retirement systems. On public safety, he said a new law enforcement training center has opened and is training new police officers.

Read the governor’s speech here.

Louisiana

Address date: March 9, 2026

Maine

Address date: Jan. 27, 2026
Stars: 2
To sum it up: Janet Mills’ final State of the State address at the end of her two terms as Maine governor was largely a reflection on her administration’s accomplishments as well as an assessment of national current events. Amid discussion of affordability, housing and health care, Mills made several mentions of technology, including praise of the Maine Connectivity Authority. She said the state’s broadband office has made it possible for everyone who wants Internet to have it, and that more than 250,000 homes and businesses have been connected. In education, Mills noted the tens of thousands of degrees the University of Maine system has awarded in high-demand fields, including “new technologies.” And during the speech she proposed enacting a statewide ban on cellphones during the school day for the K-12 system. Looking ahead 50 years, Mills said she hopes AI “will be commonplace but will never replace the human touch or the human heart.”

Read the governor’s speech here.

Maryland

Address date: TBD

Massachusetts

Address date: Jan. 22, 2026
Stars: 1
To sum it up: While expressing the need to strengthen the state’s climate tech, AI partnerships and defense technology, Gov. Maura Healey credited affordability and workforce development as key elements to Massachusetts’ growth in her third State of the Commonwealth address.

Following a year of ever-increasing electric bills, the governor recently celebrated the completion of the New England Clean Energy Connect transmission line. With clean hydropower supporting the electric grid, residents can look forward to lower long-term electricity costs, the reduction of harmful pollution and a more reliable energy source during the winter months.

To ensure their spot ahead of the curve in terms of workforce expansion, the administration announced that occupations featuring AI-related credentials, defense manufacturing or additional manufacturing are now eligible for the state’s Registered Apprenticeship Tax Credit. By cutting fees and investing in emerging technologies, building a skilled workforce in Massachusetts becomes much more affordable.

Review the governor’s speech here.

Michigan

Address date: Feb. 25, 2026

Minnesota

Address date: TBD

Mississippi

Address date: TBD

Missouri

Address date: Jan. 13, 2026
Stars: 2
To sum it up: Gov. Mike Kehoe led his address with plans to return an even-keeled budget by cutting about $600 million and heading off a potential $2 billion imbalance, but he also announced an executive order to establish how Missouri is approaching AI. Tying this into his government efficiency efforts, he said that modern technology and AI are “critical” to efficiency, economic development, energy and job training.

Kehoe also made references to unmanned drone legislation, telehealth and the 2025 school cellphone ban. He said that a bell-to-bell ban across the state has increased student engagement and socializing. As for the budget, his administration will look at modernizing tax codes to capture revenue from online consumption, streaming services, digital books and AI platforms that aren’t taxed in the same way brick-and-mortar stores are. Kehoe also hinted at eliminating state income taxes to attract new residents.

Read the governor’s speech here.

Montana

No speech given this year.

Nebraska

Address date: Jan. 15, 2026
Stars: 1
To sum it up: Gov. Jim Pillen noted technological innovations and protections supporting critical Nebraska industries, including agriculture, construction and power, in his State of the State address. While his speech centered on traditional values and leadership in areas like ethanol production and shrinking government, he also noted the importance of looking to the future. With AI on the rise, Pillen said ensuring data centers and power grids behind AI will be an important economic driver. He promised to minimize bureaucratic barriers to companies building large power plants.

Pillen touted the Agriculture Data Privacy Act introduced last year, which gives farmers legal control of how valuable data — including crop yield data, financial records and GPS recordings — are used. He also praised a Nebraska-born construction management app that recently reached a $1 billion valuation.

Read the governor’s speech here.

Nevada

Address date: TBD

New Jersey

Address date: Jan. 13, 2026
Stars: 2
To sum it up: Outgoing Gov. Phil Murphy delivered his final address Jan. 13, passing the torch to Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill after serving two terms. The bulk of Murphy’s time was spent reflecting on his tenure and progress toward his goal of making New Jersey “stronger and fairer.” The speech included a couple of references to technology, though most centered on its potential to grow the state’s economy.

With a nod to the New Jersey AI Moonshot program announced two years ago, Murphy touted its AI Hub research partnership as well as the leading work on AI from the newly renamed New Jersey Innovation Authority. It has led AI training for the government workforce and ushered in AI-fueled resident-facing upgrades that better connect residents with state services including property tax and food assistance. The speech also touched on the need to guard against potential harms from emerging technology, reminding viewers of the state’s recently signed “bell to bell” cellphone ban. He further suggested that policymakers consider following the lead of Australia on banning all social media for children under the age of 16.

Watch the governor’s address here.

New Mexico

Address date: Jan. 20, 2026
Stars: 1
To sum it up: This was Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s eighth and final State of the State. She led with her universal child-care initiative that launched in November — the only such programming in the U.S. She said that there are 10,000 more children enrolled in care than before and that an increased number of centers and funding have been instrumental.

But the hot tech topic for New Mexico is quantum computing and creating an economy around it. The state has spent several years building momentum in this space, and the governor referenced a multimillion-dollar defense partnership announced last year. Grisham credits these moves as contributors to job creation, economic development and personal income growth. This year, the Legislature has been asked to approve $150 million in tax credits for these and other “next-generation” technologies.

Education, affordable housing, roads, energy and climate were also in the mix. The state has reduced methane emissions, increased solar power and doubled wind power capacity, the governor said. The state will continue to pursue clean energy, reduce pollution and modernize the grid. And if the Legislature codifies its Climate Action Plan, she said, it will put New Mexico on the road to net-zero emissions.

Read the governor’s speech here.

New York

Address date: Jan. 13, 2026
Stars: 4
To sum it up: Citing “historic investments in clean energy, chips manufacturing and advanced technology,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also struck a defiant tone against the ongoing cuts made by President Donald Trump. She expressed faith that her state represents the future thanks in part to its ongoing and future use of technology.

During her speech she criticized Trump for taking away funding for police and other first responders and trying to kill congestion pricing, among other issues. And law enforcement is part of her vision for technology in the state, pointing to the tech police are using as well as work to expand the state’s network of crime analysis centers and “using data, coordination and smart enforcement to stay ahead of criminals.”

Hochul also talked about taking on Big Tech with bans on mobile phones for children attending school and other efforts. She said, “addictive algorithms ... manipulate their minds.” She also wants to block direct messages from potential child predators who have automatic privacy settings and disable AI chatbots that could “cause serious mental health problems.” She also wants to crack down on devious uses of AI in political campaigns.

As for housing, Hochul wants to do what other governments have done and “leverage cutting-edge technology to make government work better.” That generally means using digital services to cut through paper-based red tape hurdles. Hochul also addressed data centers and, reflecting the growing backlash against those operations, attempted to set at least vague limits on their spread. She noted that data centers are essential for innovation but that they must pay their share for the power they use.

Read the governor’s speech here.

North Carolina

No speech given this year.

North Dakota

Address date: Jan. 21, 2026
Stars: 1
To sum it up: North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong’s second State of the State address made few references to technology, instead focusing on the importance of improving health and health-care access in the state. He did underline a goal to connect technology and data to the health-care system in the state to make it more efficient and effective for those it serves. He also noted a desire to expand access to health services through telehealth and virtual medical rooms.

Armstrong said his goal within this legislative session is to address the $199 million in federal funding for the first year of the Rural Health Transformation Program. He acknowledged gaps in health-care access in the state’s rural areas, detailing that nearly 75 percent of rural counties in the state face primary care shortages. He also cited four bills that the state’s Legislature is considering to improve health, including requiring nutrition education for physicians’ continuing education requirements and requiring the Presidential Fitness Test in P.E. courses.

Read the governor’s address here.

Ohio

Address date: TBD

Oklahoma

Address date: Feb. 2, 2026

Oregon

Address date: TBD

Pennsylvania

Address date: Feb. 4, 2026

Rhode Island

Address date: Jan. 13, 2026
Stars: 0
To sum it up: Rhode Island Gov. Daniel J. McKee did not directly mention technology in his State of the State speech this year, instead focusing nearly all of his remarks on affordability, specifically on what he called his Affordability for All agenda. It’s a bit of a stark contrast from last year’s speech, in which the governor directly discussed the state’s recovery from a cyber attack that hit the system its residents use to access benefits.

While discussing affordability, the governor did briefly discuss that the first degree in AI in the state’s history had been awarded to a student. And he also mentioned a company that makes autonomous underwater vehicles in the state, but he did so in the context of economic development, noting it was a win for the state that that company did not relocate.

Read the governor’s speech here.

South Carolina

Address date: Jan. 28, 2026
Stars: 0
To sum it up: In Gov. Henry McMaster’s ninth and final State of the State speech, he started with deep historical reflection, specifically with a look back at the state’s history, all the way to the days when it was partially covered by the Atlantic Ocean. He then traced South Carolina’s settling in the Colonial era on through to the American Revolution and eventually to modern times, transitioning to talk of the nine years that he served as South Carolina’s governor.

Obviously, the bits about South Carolina’s role in the American Revolution — while fascinating, because most of that history is focused further north — did not touch on state government technology work. In fact, the governor did not really directly address how his state was using tech in his remarks at all. As with last year’s speech, Gov. McMaster spent a significant portion of his final address on stressing the importance of increasing the state’s energy production. In that segment, he did mention positioning South Carolina to try to become the country’s leader in nuclear power.

Read the governor’s speech here.

South Dakota

Address date: Jan. 13, 2026
Stars: 3
To sum it up: In his first State of the State Address, Gov. Larry Rhoden — who came into the role via the lieutenant governorship after former Gov. Kristi Noem took a job with the federal government — covered a wide range of topics. That included several mentions of technology initiatives and calls for action, such as expanding the SecureSD local government cybersecurity initiative at Dakota State University to include nonprofit utilities such as rural water systems.

He noted that South Dakota’s Rural Health Transformation Program, which partly involves using technology to improve health care, recently won $189 million in federal funding. Rhoden praised the state’s cybersecurity industry, which he said has grown 350 percent in the past decade, as well as other technology firms in the state such as warfare tech firm MMS Products and agriculture tech company Dakota BioWorx.

His wife, too, is involved in a push to address problems arising from cellphone use in schools. Outside that, Rhodes covered many topics affecting his state, ranging from hunting season to property tax reform to immigration deportations, abortion and gun regulations.

Read the governor’s speech here.

Tennessee

Address date: Feb. 2, 2026

Texas

Address date: TBD

Utah

Address date: Jan. 22, 2026
Stars: 0
To sum it up: In giving his sixth State of the State address, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox focused on philosophy, history and his assessment of the current moment in the U.S., with a few references to legislation and specific issues sprinkled throughout. The better part of Cox’s speech drew from American historical figures such as Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and, in his own words, a little “too much Calvin Coolidge.” He called out efforts from state legislators to boost early childhood literacy, build more housing, combat fentanyl trafficking, expand addiction treatment and homeless services, and enact a phone ban in schools. Technology was mentioned sparsely, and in equal measure Cox treated the subject with praise of innovation and trepidation of overreliance.

Read the governor’s speech here.

Vermont

Address date: Jan. 7, 2026
Stars: 0
To sum it up: Vermont Gov. Phil Scott focused almost entirely on education in his 2026 State of the State address, with zero mention of any issue directly related to government technology. That’s hardly surprising, given that the state is in the midst of a major educational reform push that seeks to consolidate tiny and numerous schools and school districts. Scott, who has a degree in industrial education — he brought up his background in “tech ed” during his speech — urged fortitude and follow-through as officials work to make those changes. He illustrated the challenges and need for change by detailing the situation via the opportunities offered to students, which vary greatly by district. The governor also spelled out challenges faced not only by people in Vermont but residents of other states during these extraordinary times, amid uncertainty of federal support and increasing costs of living.

Read the governor’s speech here.

Virginia

Address date: Jan. 17, 2026
Rating: 0
To sum it up: Newly elected Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s 2026 inaugural address touched only lightly on technology, with few explicit references woven into a broader agenda rather than a dedicated digital strategy. Although the governor’s remarks emphasized expanding energy storage and increasing independence through solar, nuclear and offshore wind — which have digital and grid management implications — the address framed these as part of broader infrastructure goals rather than as standalone tech priorities. Spanberger pitched energy storage expansion across the state as a way to “capture cheaper power and use it during peak demand,” a proposal with indirect ties to data-driven grid optimization and reliability improvements that are more dependent on digital systems.

Spanberger directed the Department of Education to strengthen core instructional systems and expand advanced math instruction, efforts that link to broader workforce readiness even if not explicitly framed around technology training or digital skills. Otherwise, the inaugural address focused on traditional policy areas such as housing affordability, health-care access and regulatory reform.

Read the governor’s speech here.

Washington

Address date: Jan. 13, 2026
Stars: 0
To sum it up: In his first State of the State address on Jan. 13, Gov. Bob Ferguson offered budget proposals with a focus on areas like improving infrastructure and growing housing, with little reference to a digital agenda or tech advances. Ferguson did call attention to the state’s well-positioned economy, the ninth largest in the nation, with technology industries like space manufacturing. Business applications have grown more than 16 percent in the last year.

Elsewhere, he praised the response to the historic floods Western Washington experienced in December, including the Department of Transportation’s handling of the impact on roads. He proposed funding both for road and bridge repair statewide, applauded action taken by the state Legislature to place vaccine recommendations with the Washington state Department of Health, and called for an overhaul of the tax code, including a new “Millionaires’ Tax.”

Read the governor's speech here.

West Virginia

Address date: Jan. 14, 2026
Stars: 2
To sum it up: Technology appeared in Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s 2026 State of the State address through targeted operational priorities rather than as a unified statewide strategy, highlighting technology-adjacent projects in education, public safety and resilience instead of a centralized IT agenda.

Morrisey emphasized expanding digital literacy across K-12 schools and higher education, positioning technology as a tool to support personalized learning, tutoring and broader access to educational resources. Mentioning public safety and resilience, the governor referenced a new pilot initiative known as Century, a $10 million effort aimed at modernizing flood detection and warning systems across the state. The initiative would expand the use of sensors and predictive modeling to identify flood risks hours in advance. Morrisey framed the effort as a life-saving application of technology, particularly in flood-prone rural areas where traditional river gauges often provide warnings too late.

Infrastructure and energy policy also carried indirect technology implications. Morrisey’s broader energy strategy, including long-term grid expansion and reliability goals, suggested increased reliance on modern monitoring, data systems and predictive tools, though those technologies were not discussed in detail. Similarly, references to simplifying government operations and transparency hinted at modernization efforts without explicitly naming digital platforms or IT systems.

Watch the governor’s speech here.

Wisconsin

Address date: Feb. 17, 2026

Wyoming

Address date: Feb. 9, 2026