State of the State: 2025 vs 2026
Governor Kay Ivey -- comparing priorities year over year
From Brief Ceremony to Comprehensive Legacy Address
Governor Kay Ivey's 2025 State of the State address was remarkably brief and largely ceremonial — celebrating Alabama's spirit, recognizing Miss America Abbie Stockard, and offering broad rhetorical optimism without substantive policy proposals or spending details. In stark contrast, the 2026 address was a sweeping, detailed retrospective and forward-looking agenda befitting a governor in her final stretch, marking her 10th Regular Session and cataloging achievements across economic development, education, public safety, and healthcare.
Economic development and infrastructure received major emphasis in 2026, with Ivey citing $69 billion in investments creating 100,000 jobs, naming specific companies like Lilly Medicine, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, First Solar, Meta, and Novelis. She highlighted the Rebuild Alabama infrastructure program generating over $2 billion for 500 road and bridge projects and celebrated the official securing of Space Command Headquarters for Huntsville. None of these specifics appeared in the 2025 address.
Education policy became the centerpiece of the 2026 agenda with concrete proposals: a record-setting Education Trust Fund budget, a $250 million funding increase for the CHOOSE Act education savings accounts (serving 23,000+ students), an additional $50 million for K-12 safety, the "Let the Kids Play Act" to protect CHOOSE Act students' athletic eligibility, a temporary teaching certificate pathway for veterans, limits on screen time for children five and under in publicly funded centers (HB 78), and continued funding for the Turnaround Schools initiative. She also touted results from the FOCUS Act limiting phone use. The 2025 address mentioned education gains only in passing.
Public safety and healthcare emerged as significant new policy areas in 2026. Ivey proposed the death penalty for child rape/sodomy, a crackdown on fleeing law enforcement, deployment of 400+ National Guardsmen to Washington, D.C., increased ALEA trooper presence in Montgomery, a statewide flood notification system, and a two percent pay raise for all state employees. On healthcare, she highlighted $203 million in first-year funding from the federal Rural Health Transformation Program with 11 initiatives and the creation of an Alabama Resilience Council for disaster preparedness. These topics were entirely absent from 2025.
New Priorities in 2026
- +Death penalty for child rape/sodomy, carried by Representative Matt Simpson and Senator April Weaver
- +Legislation to crack down on fleeing law enforcement, led by Representative Reed Ingram and Senator Lance Bell
- +$203 million in federal Rural Health Transformation Program funding with 11 state initiatives to boost rural healthcare
- +Alabama Resilience Council and statewide resilience plan legislation carried by Representative Chip Brown and Senator Steve Livingston
- +Statewide flood notification system to be in place by summer, with legislative funding requested
- +$50 million additional funding for K-12 school safety efforts
- +Increasing CHOOSE Act education savings account funding to $250 million for the 2027-28 academic year
- +The 'Let the Kids Play Act' to protect CHOOSE Act students' athletic eligibility, carried by Representative Danny Garrett and Senator Clyde Chambliss
- +Temporary teaching certificate pathway for qualified veterans, sponsored by Senator Matt Woods and Representative Rick Rehm
- +Screen time limits for children five and younger in publicly funded early learning centers (HB 78)
- +Two percent pay raise for all state employees including troopers, mental health workers, and cybersecurity personnel
- +Two percent pay increase for teachers as part of the largest-ever Education Trust Fund proposal
- +Deployment of 400+ Alabama National Guardsmen to Washington, D.C. and increased ALEA trooper presence in Montgomery
- +Continued funding for the Turnaround Schools initiative, highlighting schools improving at twice the statewide rate
- +Celebration of America's 250th birthday and encouragement of youth public service
Dropped from 2025
- −Recognition of Miss America Abbie Stockard and her Cystic Fibrosis awareness platform, which was a centerpiece of the 2025 address
Shifted Emphasis
- ↔Education shifted from a vague one-line reference to 'highest gains in the country' in 2025 to a detailed policy agenda in 2026 with specific rankings (32nd in math, 34th in reading), multiple legislative proposals, and the largest-ever Education Trust Fund budget
- ↔Economic development went from no mention in 2025 to a comprehensive recounting of $69 billion in investments, 100,000 jobs, and named corporate partners like Lilly Medicine, Meta, and First Solar
- ↔Space Command moved from an aspirational mention ('rightfully earn Space Command') in 2025 to a confirmed accomplishment celebrated in 2026
- ↔The overall tone shifted from a brief, celebratory and rhetorically optimistic address in 2025 to a detailed legacy-building speech in 2026, reflecting Ivey's awareness that her tenure is nearing its end
- ↔Public safety was mentioned as the 'number one priority' of the prior year in 2026 with new legislative proposals, whereas it received no attention whatsoever in 2025
Policy Topics Addressed
Affordability
Governor Ivey proposed a 2% pay raise for state employees including troopers, mental health workers, and cybersecurity staff. She highlighted the state's largest-ever Education Trust Fund proposal and another 2% teacher pay increase. While not framing a broad affordability agenda, she emphasized keeping Alabama competitive for business and noted the state's consistent ranking among top 10 states for doing business.
Agriculture
Governor Ivey did not focus extensively on agriculture but noted the importance of rural healthcare and broadband connectivity, which indirectly support agricultural communities across Alabama's 67 counties.
Economy & Jobs
Governor Ivey reported $69 billion in investments creating 100,000 jobs since taking office, with Alabama consistently ranking among the top 10 states for doing business. She highlighted landing Space Command headquarters and major companies including Lilly Medicine, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, and Meta. She proposed a 2% pay raise for state employees.
Education
Governor Ivey celebrated Alabama's rise from 52nd in 4th-grade math to 32nd, calling it first in the nation in math recovery. She proposed the largest Education Trust Fund budget in state history with another 2% teacher pay increase, announced an additional $50 million for K-12 safety, proposed increasing CHOOSE Act ESA funding to $250 million, and championed the FOCUS Act limiting phone use during instructional time. She also backed legislation to limit screen time for children five and younger in publicly funded learning centers.
Environment & Energy
Governor Ivey did not significantly address energy or environmental policy in her address, focusing primarily on education, public safety, and economic development.
Government Reform
Governor Ivey highlighted consolidating the new Department of Workforce and moving the Department of Veterans Affairs into the Governor's Cabinet as efficiency reforms. She proposed a 2% pay raise for all state employees and emphasized that the state has avoided proration through conservative budgeting.
Healthcare
Governor Ivey announced Alabama will receive more than $203 million in first-year funding from the Rural Health Transformation Program, listing 11 initiatives to boost rural healthcare delivery. She urged legislators and healthcare leaders to 'think outside-the-box' in implementing this program and challenged them to develop needed policy.
Housing
Governor Ivey briefly referenced supporting Alabama families and noted AHFC-equivalent housing work but did not make housing a central focus of her address. Her emphasis was more on education and economic development.
Infrastructure
Governor Ivey emphasized Rebuild Alabama, which generated more than $2 billion for 500 road and bridge projects across all 67 counties since 2019. She highlighted broadband expansion, noting Alabama moved from near the bottom to 24th nationally, with a plan for 100% access through an internet service provider. She also noted receiving over $203 million in first-year federal Rural Health Transformation funding that would support infrastructure for healthcare delivery.
Public Safety
Governor Ivey declared public safety her number one priority and announced support for legislation imposing the death penalty for child rape/sodomy and cracking down on fleeing from law enforcement. She deployed over 400 Alabama National Guardsmen to support federal efforts in D.C. and directed ALEA to increase trooper presence in Montgomery. She proposed a 2% pay raise for state employees including troopers and proposed $50 million for K-12 school safety efforts.
Social Services
Governor Ivey highlighted foster care adoptions exceeding 6,000 and the CHOOSE Act education savings accounts supporting over 23,000 students. She announced Alabama would receive more than $203 million in first-year funding from the Rural Health Transformation Program to improve rural healthcare delivery, listing 11 initiatives to boost services.
Tax & Budget
Governor Ivey proposed a two percent pay raise for state employees including troopers and mental health workers. She highlighted conservative budgeting that avoided proration and announced investments totaling $69 billion that created 100,000 jobs. She also noted the state generated more than $2 billion for 500 road and bridge projects through Rebuild Alabama and proposed the largest Education Trust Fund budget in state history.
Technology
Governor Ivey celebrated Alabama's FOCUS Act limiting phone use during instructional time, noting early positive results. She supported Representative Jeana Ross's bill to limit screen time for children five and younger in publicly funded early learning centers (HB 78). Ivey also mentioned Alabama's position as a top-five state for computer science education and highlighted cybersecurity as a priority area for state employees.
Veterans & Military
Governor Ivey celebrated the official designation of Space Command Headquarters in Huntsville and highlighted Alabama's defense manufacturing, including F-35 fighter jets in Montgomery, Black Hawk helicopters at Fort Rucker, and ships at Austal. She noted that more than 400 Alabama National Guardsmen were deployed to support President Trump's mission in D.C. She also recognized Rodney Smith's work mowing lawns for veterans through his foundation.