2024 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Families & Children
Kathy Hochul:
Make New York the first state to offer prenatal leave
Last year, infant deaths were up for the first time in 20 years. And black and brown women remain three to four times more likely to die in childbirth.
I won't let this continue on my watch. We must ensure moms have healthy pregnancies. So I want to make New York the first state in the nation to offer prenatal leave.
Source: 2024 State of the State Address to New York legislature
Jan 10, 2024
Kim Reynolds:
Thrive Iowa will connect families with faith-based support
Government support is just the first step on the road to lasting self-sufficiency. Support from within the community is just as important. Government's role is not to replace these grassroots efforts, but to amplify and facilitate them.
That's why I'm thrilled to announce Thrive Iowa, a remarkable new initiative that will leverage faith-based organizations and private sector networks to connect individuals and families to support outside of government assistance.
Source: 2024 State of the State Address to Iowa legislature
Jan 9, 2024
Laura Kelly:
Shortage of child care is stressful; slows down our economy
I'll be proposing the largest single-year investment ever made in our state's early childhood system. A large part of that investment will go toward solving our state's child care shortage. Over half of Kansas families in search of child care cannot
find an open slot--forcing many parents to quit their jobs. And the shortages are worst in our rural areas. That's bad for our children, stressful for our parents, and, when every business is desperate for workers, it slows down our economy.
Source: 2024 State of the State Address to Kansas legislature
Jan 10, 2024
Ron DeSantis:
We lead the nation in protecting the rights of parents
We lead the nation in school choice. Last session, under the leadership of Speaker Renner, we enacted the largest expansion of school choice in American history. Florida has close to 1.5 million students enrolled full-time in various choice programs--
from private scholarships to charter schools to choice options within school districts.We also lead the nation in protecting the rights of parents. School systems are important, but they exist to serve the students, parents and the community, not
to supersede the rights of parents to direct the education and upbringing of their children. We were one of the first states to enact a Parents' Bill of Rights and curriculum transparency.
We protected women's sports--as the father of two daughters
I think it is important that they have the opportunity to compete with fairness and integrity. We protected our children from indoctrination and sexualized curriculum, and we stood up for parents against the woke mob
Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the Idaho legislature
Jan 9, 2024
Jared Polis:
Allow homeowners to build of Accessory Dwelling Units
Together we can create a Colorado where homeowners have the property rights and financial tools they need to build an Accessory Dwelling Unit - also known as a granny flat or casita - for an aging parent, child or long term renter, creating more
housing supply that's inherently affordable and filling critical gaps in our communities. According to a survey, more than 80% of Coloradans are supportive of allowing ADUs in their communities.
Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the Colorado legislature
Jan 11, 2024
Kay Ivey:
Early onset medical care necessary for mothers and children
To foster a better culture of life, we must also do more to support Alabama families, and early onset medical care is necessary for both mothers and children. That is why I am proud to support a pilot program that will start hosting checkups for
pregnant women at nine county health departments in areas of need. Folks, there is nothing more important than our Alabama families, and we must come together to find common ground on meaningful ways to support them.
Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the Alabama legislature
Feb 6, 2024
Maura Healey:
Gateway to Pre-K: universal preschool in Gateway Cities
Pre-K plan to save families money and transform early education in our state. First, we'll get direct help to thousands of families, by expanding eligibility for state financial assistance. In this program, childcare costs are capped based on what you
can afford.Next, we'll set a new goal for early education in Massachusetts. Let's have universal pre-K access for every 4-year-old in our state.
Let's have universal pre-K access for every 4-year-old in our state.
By 2026, we will guarantee access to high-quality, affordable preschool for every 4-yearold in all 26 Gateway Cities.
That means a seat in a classroom for over 23,000 children. And we won't stop there.
We're going to keep working--with businesses, providers, and the champions of childcare in the Legislature and across the state. Together, we will expand access, lower costs, and meet this childcare challenge.
Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the Mass. legislature
Jan 17, 2024
Maura Healey:
Most generous child and dependent tax credit of any state
We now have the most generous child and dependent tax credit of any state in the country. And we got rid of the two-child cap!
For someone like my mom, it would've meant an extra $2200 every year. Mom, I bet you could've used that money.
Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the Mass. legislature
Jan 17, 2024
Spencer Cox:
Build 35,000 single-family affordable starter homes
That is why I have proposed the Utah First Homes program, with the audacious goal to build 35,000 starter homes in the next five years. While we need more of everything, my focus is on affordable, attainable, single-family, owner-occupied, detached
housing. Most of us grew up or started our own families in a 1,300-square-foot home. Our kids and grandkids are desperate for this opportunity. The greatest generation did this after WWII and we can do it again.
Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the Utah legislature
Jan 18, 2024
Tony Evers:
Paid leave is the right thing to do for kids and families
Wisconsin, we also need to expand paid family leave. I've proposed investing $240 million to jumpstart a program that would provide most private-sector workers 12 weeks of paid leave. Republicans rejected my proposal.
Twice. Paid leave is the right thing to do for kids and families, and it's also what we need to do to compete for and keep talented workers.
Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the Wisconsin legislature
Jan 23, 2024
Wes Moore:
Largest increase in funding for child care in state history
Last month, the Comptroller released a study outlining the affordability problems Maryland families face every day. Her report highlighted that as the cost of child care INCREASES, overall female employment DECREASES by 5%. And it's why our proposed
budget includes the single largest increase in funding for child care in Maryland history. It's going to support 45,000 Maryland children this year. And we can make these investments in child care and housing without raising taxes on Marylanders.
Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the Maryland legislature
Feb 7, 2024
Page last updated: Sep 29, 2024