Technology

Governor Dunleavy extensively discussed technology modernization of state government, including migration of over 1,100 applications to Microsoft cloud (with Alaska on track to be among the first states to operate primarily in the cloud), the MyAlaska mobile app offering 50+ state services, and mobile driver's licenses approved for TSA use. He also emphasized positioning Alaska for data centers, advanced nuclear power, carbon capture, and tidal energy, and spoke broadly about embracing AI and robotics rather than fearing technological change.

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 Hobbs proposed eliminating the Data Center Tax Exemption, calling it a $38 million corporate handout, and proposed making data centers pay one cent per gallon for water used — the same rate as average families. She welcomed Cognite as the first AI company headquartered in Arizona and celebrated TSMC's historic investment, but argued the data center industry must work for the people rather than the other way around.

Governor Newsom positioned California as the global leader in AI, robotics, fusion, space, and quantum computing. He highlighted California's landmark AI legislation creating the nation's first rules for responsible, ethical, and safe AI use, noting New York adopted California's approach. He warned about AI's risks to jobs while celebrating clean energy tech achievements, including running the fourth-largest economy on 100% clean energy for part of 9 out of 10 days.

Governor Polis addressed AI as having "tremendous potential" and called for thoughtful regulation that drives innovation while empowering consumers. He highlighted Colorado's growth in electric vehicles (204,000 on roads, #1 nationally for EV sales percentage), cybersecurity industry growth of 350%, and the state's $1 billion Capital of Quantum initiative with Microsoft. He also noted the myColorado app used by nearly 2 million residents and called for a unified workforce department to prepare workers for technological change.

Governor Lamont expressed deep concern about social media's impact on children, calling for no phones bell-to-bell in schools and requiring parental permission for children under 18 to access dangerous apps. He proposed working with neighboring states on these restrictions. On energy technology, Lamont emphasized the Millstone nuclear contract returning over $100 million to ratepayers and cautioned against adding energy-consuming data centers without requiring additional generation capacity.

Governor Meyer highlighted Delaware students winning a gold medal at the International Jamboree in Paris for bioengineering work, and noted 72% broadband connectivity with a goal of becoming the first state with universal high-speed broadband. He called for nuclear energy feasibility exploration and announced modernization of Delaware's banking and payments framework for an increasingly digital world.

Governor Green discussed expanding film tax credits to include streaming service productions for the first time and removing credit caps for large productions spending $60 million or more. He also mentioned deploying wildfire and wind sensors statewide for early alert capabilities and using technology to transform healthcare delivery through telehealth and Food is Medicine programs.

Governor Reynolds announced partnerships with Amazon Web Services to consolidate 50+ state call centers into a single AI-powered system, and with Google Public Sector to build a modern child welfare system at less than half the typical cost. She also endorsed Senator Raatz's bill to limit cellphone use in schools and give parents veto power over their kids' social media access, framing it as a parental rights issue against Big Tech.

Governor Little emphasized Idaho's role in nuclear energy through the Idaho National Laboratory, highlighting Energy Secretary Chris Wright's visit to celebrate INL's contributions to nuclear energy research, cybersecurity, and national defense. He noted INL's critical role in the nuclear energy resurgence under President Trump and in protecting critical systems from cyber threats.

Governor Braun addressed data centers extensively, insisting they must pay their own way for power rather than sticking Hoosiers with the bill. He cited Amazon's $15 billion data center paying for all its own power needs as the model. He also supported Senator Raatz's bill to limit cellphone use in schools and give parents social media veto power, and promoted workforce upskilling programs.

Governor Kelly discussed the transformative impact of technology on daily life over the past decade, including remote work and AI. She called for a bipartisan cell phone ban during the school day, thanking legislative leaders for their work on the issue. She also noted investments in high-speed internet connecting over 117,000 homes and businesses.

Governor Beshear's address (delivered as a press release) did not extensively address technology policy but mentioned ongoing economic development and infrastructure investments that include technology components.

Governor Healey proposed strict new requirements to protect kids on social media, including parental consent and age verification on all platforms, preventing social media companies from targeting kids for profit, and building on Attorney General Campbell's regulatory work. She also launched free community college for adult learners in fields including technology and announced 100,000 apprenticeships over 10 years. She proposed requiring all AI-generated election images and videos to include disclosures.

Governor Moore announced a $4 million investment in AI workforce training, plans to use AI to help residents navigate government services (SNAP, Medicaid, childcare), and an AI-powered small business navigation tool with Bloomberg Philanthropies. He identified I.T., life sciences, and aerospace/defense as three lighthouse industries, highlighted the $1 billion Capital of Quantum Initiative with Microsoft, and announced conditions for data center projects requiring local hiring, community engagement, and covering their own power costs.

Governor Mills proposed a statewide bell-to-bell ban on cellphone use during the school day, citing research showing improvements in student performance, behavior, attendance, and social dynamics. She noted that more than 250,000 homes and businesses had been connected to internet through broadband investments, declaring universal access achieved. She also highlighted the state's cloud and technology modernization efforts.

Governor Kehoe signed Executive Order 26-02 demonstrating his administration's commitment to safely and effectively using AI in state government operations. He also signed an executive order establishing an Advanced Nuclear Energy Task Force to promote nuclear energy deployment in Missouri, connecting technology and energy policy.

Governor Armstrong's special session address focused on rural healthcare transformation, with technology playing a central role in the plan's fourth pillar: connecting technology and data to create a smarter, faster, more responsive healthcare system that meets people where they are, including telehealth, virtual medical rooms, and mobile clinics.

Governor Pillen celebrated CompanyCam, Nebraska's first billion-dollar "unicorn" startup — a construction management app founded by a Lincoln roofing family. He discussed data centers and AI extensively, arguing that "AI factories" are critical for national security and the information economy. He promoted behind-the-meter power generation legislation to allow large energy users to build their own power plants, specifically to attract AI and data center investment.

Governor Ayotte celebrated New Hampshire's #1 ranking for home internet connectivity and the successful implementation of a bell-to-bell cell phone ban in schools. She reported students are checking out library books again and talking to each other in hallways. She directed the Department of Energy to build pathways for next-generation nuclear power and called for government modernization, including a requirement that agencies refund application fees if they miss processing deadlines.

Governor Sherrill signed executive orders on her first day directing the Board of Public Utilities to open solicitations for new solar and storage power generation and to modernize gas and nuclear generation, framing energy technology as essential to lowering utility costs.

Governor Lujan Grisham proposed $150 million in tax credits for next-generation technologies like quantum computing and fusion energy, citing Pacific Fusion's $1 billion investment, XGS Energy's $1.2 billion geothermal partnership, and a $120 million defense quantum partnership. She also called for a cell phone ban in schools, codification of the Climate Action Plan, and noted New Mexico's leadership in clean energy technology.

Governor Hochul made several major technology proposals: raising New York's nuclear energy target from one to five gigawatts (more than built anywhere in the U.S. in 30 years), requiring data centers to pay their fair share for power and ultimately generate their own, proposing first-in-the-nation legislation requiring all 3D printers sold in New York to include software blocking gun manufacturing, and calling for AI-generated deepfake disclosure requirements and bans on election deepfakes. She also proposed blocking direct messages from child predators on social media and disabling AI chatbots that cause mental health problems.

Governor Stitt focused on eliminating the state's medical marijuana industry, arguing it enables cartel activity and criminal interests, and calling for a voter referendum to shut it down. He discussed school choice and education technology but did not propose major new technology initiatives.

Governor Shapiro highlighted semiconductor investments and advanced technology job creation, noting Pennsylvania landed the largest private sector investment in Commonwealth history. He mentioned the DRIVE Act for research and science investment and called for workforce training in AI and advanced manufacturing, positioning Pennsylvania to compete in quantum and AI partnerships.

Governor McKee highlighted Rhode Island College's new AI degree program, with a student applying AI to help identify pneumonia in lung X-rays. He also mentioned the Institute for Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies and celebrated increased CTE enrollment of nearly 3,000 students. The state's economic development featured tech companies like Vatn Systems building autonomous underwater vehicles.

Governor McMaster emphasized South Carolina's role in leading a national nuclear energy renaissance, noting the state generates over half its electricity from nuclear energy with seven operating reactors. He highlighted the Santee Cooper decision to restart construction of two nuclear reactors at V.C. Summer and the SC Nexus consortium designated as one of 12 Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs, focused on power technology.

Governor Rhoden declared national security as South Dakota's "next big industry," highlighting cybersecurity growth of 350% over the past decade (second-fastest in the nation), Dakota State University's cybersecurity leadership, and MMS Products' $35 million drone munitions contract. He proposed expanding the SecureSD cybersecurity program to protect rural water systems and other nonprofit utilities from cyber threats.

Governor Lee announced the Tennessee Quantum Initiative to position the state as a national leader in quantum research, infrastructure, and workforce development. He also highlighted Tennessee's #1 ranking for nuclear energy development, proposed an additional $25 million for the state's Nuclear Fund, and celebrated the Clinch River Site as likely the first small modular reactor location in America. He framed Tennessee as both the "Original Frontier" and the "future frontier."

Governor Cox called for a statewide bell-to-bell phone ban during the school day and commonsense guardrails to hold major social media platforms accountable. He warned that addictive technology is reshaping children's attention, sleep, relationships, and mental health, emphasizing that families cannot solve the problem alone.

Governor Scott's address focused primarily on education reform but included discussion of technology's role in modernizing education and government. He emphasized the importance of investing in solid and secure technology systems to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse in government programs, noting Wyoming's low error rates as an example of technology investment paying off.

Governor Davis (incoming) briefly mentioned innovation and technology in the context of economic development but focused her inaugural address primarily on affordability, education, and values. She noted Virginia's federal workforce concerns related to technology sector disruptions from Washington.

Governor Ferguson highlighted Washington's dominance in space manufacturing, a commercial fusion power plant being built in Chelan County, and the Cascadia Sustainable Aviation Accelerator in Snohomish County. He emphasized government efficiency through technology, citing reduced processing times (behavioral health licenses from four months to six weeks) and proposed legislation requiring agencies to refund fees if deadlines are missed. He also announced a partnership with UW to study nuclear energy opportunities.

Governor Evers announced partnerships to advance startups through the Ignite Wisconsin program, including investment in the Wisconsin Fusion Energy Coalition anchored by UW-Madison research. He secured over $7 million for workforce training in advanced manufacturing and AI, stating "AI is here to stay" and emphasizing the need to prepare Wisconsin's workforce for the future. He also announced a 20-year renewable energy purchase and a nuclear energy study with UW-Madison.

Governor Morrisey highlighted West Virginia's comprehensive microgrids law as attracting deep interest from companies nationwide, calling it potentially "one of the single biggest economic development drivers in our history." He also emphasized digital literacy expansion in K-12 schools and called for using modern technology tools to personalize instruction and provide extra tutoring. He launched the SENTRY flood prediction initiative using expanded sensors and predictive models.

Governor Gordon celebrated Wyoming's launch of the nation's first fully reserved dollar-backed stable token through the Wyoming Stable Token Commission, noting "the world took notice." He praised Wyoming's decade of leadership with some 70 pieces of digital asset legislation and regulation. He also discussed nuclear energy through the Idaho National Laboratory partnership and emphasized technology investments in state government systems to maintain low error rates in federal programs.