Alabama

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Governor Ivey did not significantly address energy or environmental policy in her address, focusing primarily on education, public safety, and economic development.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.