2026 State of the State addresses

Daily News Article   —   Posted on January 20, 2026

NOTE: In place of our regular “Daily News Article” we have provided information on the annual “State of the State” addresses, and included questions below.

The State of the State Address is an annual or regular report, typically delivered as a speech, mandated by the constitutions of all 50 U.S. states, in which the governor addresses the state legislature, detailing the condition of state affairs and recommending legislative actions.

The speech is customarily delivered before both houses of the state legislature sitting in joint session, with the exception of the Nebraska legislature, which is a unicameral body.

Governors use the address to outline their fiscal plans, including budget recommendations, and advocate for policies in areas such as economic growth, education funding, public safety, and infrastructure investment.

This address is also known by other names:

  • In Iowa, the speech is called the Condition of the State Address.
  • In Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia it is called the State of the Commonwealth Address

The speech is given to satisfy a constitutional stipulation that a governor must report annually, or in older constitutions described as being “from time to time,” on the state or condition of a U.S. state.

Governors of states, territories and commonwealths outline their priorities for 2026 in state of the state or commonwealth addresses – as well as inaugural addresses for new and re-elected Governors.

There are also many cities in the United States in which the mayor gives a State of the City address.

Note:  The address given by the President of the United States is known as the State of the Union address. Traditionally, a president of the United States should be in office for a year before he gives his first State of the Union address.

In a State of the Union address, the president usually reflects back on the past year and how the nation is doing, as well as uses the opportunity to highlight the administration’s legislative agenda — which needs congressional support — and priorities for the country.

Usually a newly elected president will give his first public address before a joint session of Congress. The speech is known as an “address to a joint session.”  and they use the speech to outline goals for his administration.

Compiled from Wikipedia, Grokipedia and Ballotpedia.


Questions

1. a) What is the purpose of the “State of the State” address?
b) What topics does a governor's state of the state address usually cover?

2. Many State of the State addresses are given during the day. The President gives the State of the Union address in the evening.  What time of day do you think is best for a State of the State address?  Explain your answer.

3. On what date will/did your governor give the 2026 State of the State? (Do an internet search to find this information. Visit your governor’s website for details.)

4. Watch your governor’s State of the State address and answer the following questions. (If the address has already taken place, watch it online by visiting your governor’s website or youtube page, or the NationalGovernor'sAssociation page, or by doing a search for “2026 state of the state+your state/governor’s name” – OR, If your governor has no State of the State scheduled for this year, watch last year’s State of the State address):

  1. Tone is the attitude a speaker takes towards a subject. What was the tone of your governor’s state of the state address?
  2. List some of the things the governor promised to do to improve the economy in your state.
  3. What new initiatives did your governor propose in his/her State of the State?
  4. Which issues of importance did the Governor bypass altogether, or just mention briefly?
  5. Do you think the Governor is focusing on the correct issues? Explain your answer.
    Ask a parent the same question.
  6. What issue presented by your governor was the most important to you or inspired you? Explain your answer.
  7. Did any aspect of the speech disappoint you? Explain your answer.
  8. IF WATCHING LAST YEAR’S ADDRESS: How many of your governor’s promises/proposals did he/she fulfill in 2025?

5. In February 2025, President Trump spoke to governors at the governor’s working session* at the White House. At the end of his speech, the president urged the governors “for the safety and security and the good of our nation” to take action on elections.

He asked that the governors make the following changes to their elections:

  • paper ballots which “are very sophisticated today – they are watermarked”
  • one day/same day voting (or “if you went to two or three day voting” – not weeks)
  • voter ID
  • proof of citizenship
  • no mail-in voting

a) Do you agree with the president’s recommendations for voting as a way to make our elections secure? Explain your answer.
b) Do an internet search: how does your governor view adding/implementing/retaining these requirements for elections in your state?
c) Has your governor/state made any of the changes requested by President Trump last year?

*Note: there isn’t a formal, annual event where a president holds a governor’s working session at the White House as a standard practice. However, presidents do occasionally meet with governors, often through events like the National Governors Association (NGA) meetings…. The NGA Winter Meeting, typically held in Washington, is a common occasion where governors convene and sometimes meet with the president or other federal officials to discuss policy issues, state-federal relations, or pressing national matters. (from Grok AI)