Three Governors Deliver Final State of the State Addresses

In early 2026, three U.S. governors barred by term limits from seeking reelection delivered their final State of the State addresses to their respective legislatures. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine spoke on March 10, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers on February 18, and Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt on February 2, with each set to leave office at the end of their terms. DeWine's address focused on child safety and technology, calling on the Ohio legislature to prohibit AI-generated child pornography, hold tech companies accountable for harmful AI-created content, and require cell phone companies to implement parental controls. Evers urged Wisconsin lawmakers to continue legislative work despite the approaching election season and rejected a Republican-backed tax cut proposal, prompting visible disagreement from Republican lawmakers during parts of his address. Stitt's speech, delivered at the start of Oklahoma's legislative session, called for returning the medical marijuana issue to a statewide vote with the possibility of ending the program, proposed shifting the state superintendent from an elected to a governor-appointed position, called for eliminating the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association, and asked the legislature to place a Medicaid expansion reform question before voters. As of the reporting, none of the specific legislative or ballot proposals from any of the three addresses had been enacted or formally scheduled for a vote. Wisconsin's 2026 elections are expected to determine new leadership in the state Assembly and Senate, though the outcome remains undetermined. The ultimate legislative response to each governor's proposals, including whether Ohio will act on AI and tech regulations or Oklahoma will pursue the proposed ballot measures, remains unresolved.