Ivey State of the State Touts Successes, Sets Short 2026 Agenda

The nation's longest serving female governor in the nation and the country's oldest chief executive delivered her 10th and final State of the State Address to the Alabama Legislature tonight. She told a packed house in the old State Capitol House Chamber, "The state of the State of Alabama is strong and getting stronger!"

She gave much of the credit for that success to her relationships with lawmakers, even those she has had disagreements with, and her cabinet. "Whether it be Pardons and Paroles, Veterans Affairs OR the Department of Transportation, there is effectiveness that comes with being part of the Governor’s Cabinet."

Get our free mobile app

Ivey spent the first part of her address touting her administration's accomplishments in education, the workforce, economy supporting veterans and law enforcement and luring new businesses and industry to the state such as Lilly Pharmaceuticals, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, and Space Command to Huntsville.

Ivey praised improvements in Pre-K and K-12 education as a key to Alabama's future, “Truly, the tides are turning when it comes to education in Alabama,” Ivey said.

The longest consecutive years serving Alabama governor pointed to development of the Department of Workforce as a catalyst for improving the state's low employment participation rate.

Ivey pointed to the Focus Act passed last year, taking cellphones out of the classroom. "Even a Tuscaloosa teacher went viral for asking: Was it really that easy all along?", the Auburn graduate noted to laughter in the chamber.

"The momentum is in our sails in Alabama – and we are not done yet!", she told lawmakers and guests.

The woman who worked her way up through state government to the highest office also pointed to her statewide broadband internet initiative, "Alabama ranked near the bottom when it came to broadband connectivity. Today, we are 24th . And with our state plan, 100 percent of Alabama will soon have access through an internet service provider."

Ivey's 2o26 Legislative Agenda

The main purpose of the annual address is for the governor to introduce her agenda for the new legislative session. Among her requests were:

• A 2% pay raise for teachers and education employees, as well as state employees.
• $50 million more than the $200 million appropriated in funding this year for the CHOOSE Act, the school choice program that allows parents to receive up to $7,000 to help pay for private school.
• A bill allowing called the “Let the Kids Play Act" that would allow students who receive CHOOSE Act funds to play sports without sitting out a year under the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s longstanding rule on financial aid.
• Ivey backed legislation proposed by Bibb County Senator April Weaver that would make rape and sodomy of a child younger than 12 a death penalty offense.
• Ivey announced plans for the $203 million Alabama will receive from the Rural Health Transformation Program, the 1st of an expected five installments from President Trump's Big Beautiful Bill budget. Her plan includes 11 initiatives to boost rural health care delivery and bolster financially strapped rural hospitals. “I urge you, our legislators, to help develop needed policy and to fully implement this program,” Ivey said. “And to our healthcare leaders in the state: I challenge you to work with us in thinking outside the box and identifying new partners as we strive to improve health care in Alabama.”
• Considering Alabama's history of devastating severe weather, Ivey supported development of a statewide resilience plan. "Every Alabamian is worthy of a resilient community when disaster strikes," she added.
• Emphasizing her support for veterans and education she backed legislation from West Alabama Senator Matt Woods and Representative Rick Rehm to create a temporary teaching certificate pathway for qualified veterans. "I fully endorse this measure and look forward to this bill reaching my desk." she told lawmakers.
• Ivey urged passage of a bill co-sponsored by West Alabama Representatives Ron Bolton and Bill Lamb that limits screen time for children five and younger in publicly funded early learning centers. "House Bill 78 will help our youngest Alabamians in their key developmental days. Let’s get this bill passed so I can sign it into law." the governor pointed out.

Observers Believe Most of Her Agenda is Doable

The governor's legislative agenda is not as long as in some year past, perhaps because it is an election year. However, expected future tight budget streams may limit her success and the passage of more than 200 prefiled bills.

Ivey concluded her address with a request, "The people of Alabama deserve our very best. Future generations of Alabamians deserve our hardest work today.

"This is our opportunity. So, let’s not waste a moment."

The legislature gets down to work Wednesday with committee meetings day with Thursday devoted to activities on the house and senate floors.

Lawmakers will want to pass the budgets quickly, deal with whatever other bills that might be less controversial and adjourn the session as quickly as possible so they can hit the road campaigning.