2026 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Technology


Katie Hobbs: Should taxpayers subsidize the data center industry?

It's time we make the booming data center industry work for the people of our state, rather than the other way around. If we are to be successful, we must rethink our state's approach to data centers more broadly. More than a decade ago, we made a strategic decision to grow data centers by creating a tax exemption for them--I voted for it. Now, Arizona is a national leader in this sector. We must ask ourselves: should taxpayers continue subsidizing the data center industry?
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to the Arizona legislature Jan 12, 2026

Kim Reynolds: Partner with Google for Comprehensive Child Welfare system

And through a new partnership with Google Public Sector, we're building a modern, intuitive, and fully compliant Comprehensive Child Welfare system—in a fraction of the time and for less than half the typical cost. This transformational project will save taxpayer dollars, and it will serve as a national model. That's what efficiency looks like. And that's how we keep spending in check—so Iowans can keep more of their money.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to the Iowa legislature Jan 13, 2026

Gavin Newsom: Created nation's first rule for responsible use of AI

It goes without saying that no technology holds more promise and more peril, to jobs, to our economy, to our way of life than artificial intelligence. So the question is not whether change is happening; it is. The question is: What values will guide us into this new frontier? Last year, we worked together on landmark legislation to create the nation's first rules for responsible, ethical, & safe use of AI, regulations that provide guardrails that balance risk and opportunity.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to California legislature Jan 8, 2026

Mike Braun: Companies should pay for their own power for data centers

Let's talk about data centers. Hoosiers are concerned about their electricity rates going up to pay for them. AI is going to be key to the jobs of the future, but data centers can't stick Hoosiers with the power bill. Companies that want big power in Indiana should pay their own way. For example, Amazon is building a $15 billion dollar data center in northwest Indiana. They're going to pay for every cent of their new power needs, and then some.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to the Indiana legislature Jan 14, 2026

Phil Murphy: It's time to step up and protect our kids

I am incredibly grateful that Governor-Elect Mikie Sherrill has also identified children's online safety as a major priority for her incoming Administration. The bottom line is: We have seen the impact smartphones and social media have had on young New Jerseyans. As a parent, I've seen it first-hand. It's time to step up and protect our kids. We owe it to them, as well as future generations.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to New Jersey legislature Jan 13, 2026

J.B. Pritzker: It's time to get cell phones out of the classroom

There's real harm being done, and it's interfering with our ability to give children the most productive educational environment possible. It's time to get cell phones out of the classroom. Working together, parents and teachers in school districts like Champaign, Springfield, and Peoria prohibited cell phones in classrooms. 25 states including Florida, California, Texas and New York have done this with bipartisan support, and it is time for Illinois to follow suit.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to the Illinois legislature Feb 8, 2026

Janet Mills: It's time to get cellphones out of our classrooms

So it's time to get cellphones out of our classrooms. Tonight, I propose that we enact a statewide ban on cellphone use during the school day--from bell to bell--to reduce distraction and disruption and to keep children's attention on learning. When cell phones are removed from classrooms, research shows that student performance improves, test scores improve, behavior improves, attendance improves, and social dynamics improve.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to the Maine legislature Jan 27, 2026

Jim Pillen: AI factories are critical for our national security

Because of the growth in artificial intelligence and other energy-intensive industries, regions that find a way to produce vastly more electricity than they do now will thrive, while those who fail will shrink. The facilities of the future, let's call them "AI factories," are critical not just for our information economy, but for our national security. We simply can't lose them to our foreign adversaries.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to the Nebraska legislature Jan 15, 2026

Josh Shapiro: Explore options to hold developers of chatbots accountable

You can find bots that will tell you they're real people. Some will tell you they're real doctors and give out medical advice--we've even discovered bots that say they're licensed to practice medicine in Pennsylvania! That's dangerous--and I would argue, illegal. I've directed the departments of State and Health, the Pennsylvania State Police, and my Office of General Counsel to explore all legal options to hold the developers of these apps accountable.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to Pennsylvania legislature Feb 3, 2026

Josh Shapiro: Get the distraction of cell phones out of the classrooms

One way to do that is to get the distraction of cell phones out of their classrooms. I am calling on you to put a bill on my desk to ban cell phones while kids are in school. I know there are bills in both chambers to do this--come together and send a bill to my desk. Students need to spend less time focused on their phones and more time focused on learning, on talking to their friends face to face, and on developing the critical skills they'll need later in life.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to Pennsylvania legislature Feb 3, 2026

Maura Healey: Strict new requirements to protect kids on social media

Look, scrolling TikTok or Instagram, it's fun! But there's a time and a place. These platforms are built with addictive algorithms and they exploit insecurities, especially in our young people. So I am proposing strict new requirements to protect kids and teens on social media. We will require parental consent and age verification on all of these platforms. We're going to prevent social media companies from targeting kids for profit.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to Massachusetts legislature Jan 22, 2026

Mike DeWine: Make it a crime to possess or create AI child pornography

Ohio law needs real consequences.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to the Ohio legislature Mar 10, 2026

Mike Dunleavy: $183 million for infrastructure for mineral extraction

I want to thank President Trump and his Cabinet for everything they're doing in Alaska's best interests, and in the best interests of the United States. There's no doubt a positive relationship with our country's President is everything. What has this positive relationship done for our great state? The list is exhaustive, but here are a few examples. Last August, we received a record-setting $183 million in federal highway funds for transportation infrastructure improvements. This administration has taken numerous steps to increase oil and gas production including offshore, reopening millions of acres in the NPR-A, finalizing plans to open ANWR, and promoting Alaska LNG on the international stage. Last August, the State of Alaska entered a first-of-its-kind MOU with the Federal Permitting Council to streamline project permitting under the FAST-41 program [for mineral extraction]. This MOU is accelerating permitting for expansions at existing operations at Greens Creek and Red Dog mines.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to the Alaska legislature Jan 22, 2025

Tim Walz: Propose a social media tax on big tech companies

Nobody doubts that the rise of AI is good news for tech companies, who are making record profits. But as industries, business practices, and jobs are transformed by innovation, we need to take bold steps to protect and prepare workers for what's coming. That's why I'm proposing a social media tax--not on users, but on the big tech companies making billions off of our data. I want to use that revenue for workforce development initiatives designed to get Minnesotans ready for the age of AI.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to the Minnesota legislature Apr 29, 2026

Tony Evers: New or improved internet for 410,000 homes and businesses

Much like housing, having access to affordable, high-speed internet in the 21st Century is a necessity, not a luxury. It's why no administration has done more to expand access to high-speed internet for working families than we have. We also created new tools to help folks get connected and find affordable internet options. Thanks to our investments, including federal funding I directed, more than 410,000 homes and businesses across our state will have new or improved internet.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to the Wisconsin legislature Feb 17, 2026

Wes Moore: Give workers hands-on training to succeed in the AI economy

We need to make sure our workers aren't left behind by AI. Maryland's labor movement understands we can't stop this technology. They just want to make sure workers are supported, not supplanted. Today, I'm proud to announce that Maryland is investing $4 million to give our workers hands-on training to succeed in the AI economy. But we can't do this alone. We need employers and workers at the table to help design these programs and build pipelines to opportunity.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to the Maryland legislature Feb 11, 2026

  • The above quotations are from 2026 Governor's State of the State speeches.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Technology.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Gavin Newson on Technology.
  • Click here for more quotes by Kay Ivey on Technology.
Gubernatorial candidates on Technology:
Gubernatorial races in 2026:
  • AK: Mike Dunleavy(R,term-limited)
  • AL: Kay Ivey(R,term-limited)
  • AR: Sarah Huckabee Sanders(R,for re-election)
  • AZ: Katie Hobbs(D,for re-election)
  • CA: Gavin Newsom(D,term-limited)
  • CO: Jared Polis(D,term-limited)
  • CT: Ned Lamont(D,for re-election)
  • FL: Ron DeSantis(R,term-limited)
  • GA: Brian Kemp(R,term-limited)
  • HI: Josh Green(D,for re-election)
  • IA: Kim Reynolds(R,retiring)
  • ID: Brad Little(R,for re-election)
  • IL: J.B. Pritzker(D,for re-election)
  • KS: Laura Kelly(D,term-limited)
  • MA: Maura Healey(D,for re-election)
  • MD: Wes Moore(D,for re-election)
  • ME: Janet Mills(D,term-limited)
    		• 2026 gubernatorial races continued...
  • MI: Gretchen Whitmer(D,term-limited)
  • MN: Tim Walz(D,retiring)
  • NE: Jim Pillen(R,for re-election)
  • NH: Kelly Ayotte(R,for re-election)
  • NM: Michelle Lujan-Grisham(D,term-limited)
  • NV: Joe Lombardo(R)
  • NY: Kathy Hochul(D,for re-election)
  • OH: Mike DeWine(R,term-limited)
  • OK: Kevin Stitt(R,term-limited)
  • OR: Tina Kotek(D,for re-election)
  • PA: Josh Shapiro(D,for re-election)
  • RI: Dan McKee(D,for re-election)
  • SC: Henry McMaster(R,term-limited)
  • SD: Larry Rhoden(R,for re-election)
  • TN: Bill Lee(R,term-limited)
  • TX: Greg Abbott(R,for re-election)
  • VT: Phil Scott(R,for re-election)
  • WI: Tony Evers(D,retiring)
  • WY: Mark Gordon(R,term-limited)
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    Page last updated: Oct 18, 2026