WATCH: Governor Kay Ivey delivers final State of the State Address as legislative session begins

Gov. Kay Ivey delivers her final State of the State Address inside the Alabama Capitol, Tuesday, January 13, 2026 – Photo from WAKA Action 8 News

Governor Kay Ivey has delivered her final State of the State Address as she wraps up her time in office next January.

Inside the Old House Chamber at the Alabama Capitol, various state leaders gathered to hear her outline her plans for the state. This was the opening day of the annual regular session, which starts in January in election years to allow lawmakers time to wrap up their work, return home and hit the campaign trail.

Ivey noted that this marks her 10th legislative session as governor after she ascended to the office upon the resignation of Gov. Robert Bentley in 2017. She is the longest continually-serving governor in Alabama history.

“Our state, however, looks different today than it did when I was sworn in April 10th, 2017. I told the people of Alabama: Despite the challenges we faced, we could view the transition as a positive opportunity. Being a former economic developer, I knew our first opportunity was to recruit and support businesses. Since then, we have seen investments totaling $69 billion which has created 100,000 jobs – and counting,” Ivey said as she opened her speech.

She noted the state’s economic progress, the landing of Space Command in Huntsville, as well as Lilly Medicine, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, First Solar, Meta and Novelis.

Ivey said since 2019, Alabama generated more than $2 billion, paving the way for 500 vital road and bridge projects in all 67 counties with the passage of Rebuild Alabama, which raised the gas tax to fund infrastructure improvements.

As for other accomplishments, she said Alabama once ranked near the bottom when it came to broadband connectivity. Today, we are 24th, she said, saying with a state plan, 100% of Alabama will soon have access through an internet service provider.

As for schools, Ivey said when she took office in 2017, in 4th grade math, Alabama ranked dead last at 52nd. In 4th grade reading, the state was 49th.

“We are now 32nd in math and 34th in reading. We ranked first in the nation in math recovery and third in reading. We significantly increased our pre-k classrooms. We are a top five state for computer science. We doubled the specialty schools with the addition of the Cyber Technology and Engineering School and the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences. We have our highest ever College and Career Readiness rate. We are tied for the lowest percentage of chronic absenteeism. Our teachers are earning high marks. And we added 500,000 more credentialed men and women to our workforce.”

In outlining the future, Ivey said last year, public safety was her number one priority. She said while much was accomplished through her Safe Alabama package, the work isn’t finished. She said State Rep. Matt Simpson and State Sen. April Weaver will carry a bill to impose the death penalty for those who rape or sodomize a child. She says she offers her total support.

Another issue involves repeat offenders. She said State Rep. Reed Ingram and State Sen. Lance Bell are pushing a bill to tackle that problem.

In Montgomery, she said, “I directed the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to increase trooper presence. Between our specialized Metro Area Crime Suppression Unit and this larger law enforcement footprint, we are adding to our efforts in Montgomery.”

She is proposing a 2% pay raise for all state employees like state troopers, mental health workers and those who protect
cybersecurity.

In health care, Ivey said the state will receive more than $203 million in first-year funding from the Rural Health Transformation Program. Over five years, she said it will kickstart efforts to improve health care in rural America. She said the state’s plan, approved by the Trump Administration, lists 11 initiatives to boost rural healthcare delivery.

Ivey said the Alabama Resilience Council evaluates the state’s ability to prepare for both natural and manmade disasters.  She said State Rep. Chip Brown and State Sen. Steve Livingston will carry legislation to ensure there is a statewide resilience plan.

Ivey said she is launching a statewide flood notification system that will be in place for this summer. She is calling on the Legislature to fund this notification system moving forward.

She is also proposing an additional $50 million dollars for K-12 safety efforts.

Ivey notes that State Sen. Matt Woods and State Rep. Rick Rehm are putting forward a bill to create a temporary teaching certificate pathway for qualified veterans. She says she fully supports it.

As for other proposals, she says the education savings account program, the CHOOSE Act, is supporting more than 23,000 students.

“That number will only grow as more folks learn about the program, as student athletes feel more confident in the rules and when it becomes fully universal in year three. For the 27-28 Academic Year, I am proposing we increase funding for the CHOOSE Act to $250 million dollars. This will help even more families receive the education that best suits their child.”

Unfortunately, she said the Alabama High School Athletic Association tried sidelining the CHOOSE Act recipients. House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter and Ivey took the AHSAA to court. She said this session, State Rep. Danny Garrett and State Sen. Clyde Chambliss will carry ‘The Let the Kids Play Act’ to make sure no family benefitting from the CHOOSE Act is “unfairly benched again,” she said.

She said her final Education Trust Fund proposal will be the largest in Alabama history.

“Our teachers are certainly key to our success. So, I am excited to announce that budget includes another 2% pay increase for these teachers preparing our next generation.”

Ivey said her first Early Childhood Education Secretary, now State Rep. Jeana Ross, is putting forward a bill with State Sen. Donnie Chesteen to limit screen time for children five and younger in publicly funded early learning centers.

“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. Thank you, and may God continue to bless each of you and the great state of Alabama,” she said.