2026 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Health Care


Andy Beshear: Mental health is just as important as physical health

We also recognize that mental health is just as important as physical health. Since I've taken office, our number of mental health professionals has nearly doubled. Our efforts to rebuild our state-run health care exchange, kynect, have been hugely successful. Last year, nearly 100,000 Kentuckians enrolled--the highest number in the past decade.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to the Kentucky legislature Jan 7, 2026

Brad Little: Improve accessibility and affordability of rural health care

Our ENDURING IDAHO plan safeguards access to healthcare, particularly in rural communities. We know the affordability and accessibility of healthcare tops the list of concerns for Idahoans right now. Over the next five years, thanks to the leadership and vision of Idaho's congressional delegation and President Trump, Idaho will invest nearly one billion federal dollars to improve the accessibility and affordability of rural health care.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to the Idaho legislature Jan 12, 2026

Katie Hobbs: Erased $642M in medical debt for nearly 500,000 people

To return security to their lives, I launched a historic initiative to cancel medical debt and deliver meaningful relief for working-class Arizonans. Before we took action, Arizonans owed 2.4 billion dollars worth of medical debt. Today, we've erased 642 million dollars in medical debt for nearly half a million people--without costing the state government a dime.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to the Arizona legislature Jan 12, 2026

Kay Ivey: Kickstart efforts to improve health care in rural America

We recently learned Alabama will receive more than $203 million dollars in first-year funding from the Rural Health Transformation Program. Made possible by the One Big Beautiful Bill, this program, over five years, will kickstart efforts to improve health care in rural America. Our plan approved by the Trump Administration lists 11 initiatives to boost rural healthcare delivery.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to the Virginia legislature Jan 13, 2026

Kim Reynolds: Expand our proven Centers of Excellence health program

Through our Healthy Hometowns Initiative, we're developing cancer care hubs—helping fund the oncologists, equipment, and advanced medical technology necessary to provide this specialized treatment. This effort expands upon our proven Centers of Excellence program, which has increased access to maternal health care in rural Iowa. Now, with a strong foundation in place, we can move faster, go further, and truly transform care by expanding the model to cardiovascular care and mental health.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to the Iowa legislature Jan 13, 2026

Gavin Newsom: Our CalRX program launched our own generic drug label

In addition to the largest health care expansion in America, we subsidized some 370,000 people to help bring down the cost of their health insurance through Covered California. But it's not good enough to just subsidize health care costs; we need to lower them. And we are doing just that through our CalRX program, launching our own generic drug label. Just last week, we launched insulin at $11 a pen, just as we did with life-saving naloxone last year.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to California legislature Jan 8, 2026

Bob Ferguson: Instead of CDC we listen to experts relying on science

Speaking of challenges with the federal government, the Centers for Disease Control has seen an exodus of scientific experts and alarming shifts in policy that place Washingtonians' health at risk. I immediately took action and teamed up with other Governors to form the West Coast Health Alliance. The Alliance ensures Washingtonians will continue to receive responsible recommendations from health experts who rely on, you guessed it, science.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to Washington legislature Jan 13, 2026

Dan McKee: Create the state's first Marketplace Affordability program

Those who buy insurance through HealthSource RI are facing rising costs or a loss of coverage due to the inaction of Washington Republicans. Keeping our uninsured rate as low as possible is important to all of us because it helps stabilize our health insurance costs. That's why my budget will invest $9.5 million to create the state's first Marketplace Affordability program to support the 20,000 Rhode Islanders who are at the greatest risk of losing their HealthSourceRI coverage.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to Rhode Island legislature Jan 13, 2026

Jared Polis: Our goal is health care for everyone at lower costs

We will continue fighting for Coloradans, but ultimately, we need Washington to step up and take real action on a real solution. Call it what you will--a social insurance model, multi-payer universal health care, Medicare for All, a single payer system with private insurance and care on top--no matter the jargon, the outcome is what matters: health care for everyone at lower costs. It's long past time Washington got on the side of hardworking Americans, and out of the pockets of special interests.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to the Colorado legislature Jan 15, 2026

Kathy Hochul: Protect affordable health care for 1.3M+ New Yorkers

Republicans in Washington want to drive up premiums, deny coverage, and force families to choose between seeing a doctor and paying their rent. Here in New York we are fighting like hell to stop them. This year, we'll protect affordable health care for more than 1.3 million New Yorkers. And we're also protecting access to lifesaving vaccines.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to the New York legislature Jan 13, 2026

Laura Kelly: Join me in making mental health a real priority

We have done a lot. We have filled many gaps. But unfortunately, the needs of Kansans require that even more must be done. We need more treatment beds. We need more professionals. We need more crisis response. And my budget does just that. Join me in making mental health a real priority this session.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to the Kansas legislature Jan 13, 2026

Ron DeSantis: Coercing medical treatments is philosophically wrong

The use of coercion regarding medical treatments has been philosophically wrong and tactically counterproductive. People must have the right to make personalized choices about which medical products to consume or which medical interventions to undergo. Informed consent must be the touchstone. Let's make that the law of the land in the free state of Florida!
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to the Florida legislature Jan 13, 2026

  • The above quotations are from 2026 Governor's State of the State speeches.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Health Care.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Gavin Newson on Health Care.
  • Click here for more quotes by Kay Ivey on Health Care.
Candidates and political leaders on Health Care:
Candidates for President & Vice-President:
V.P.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.(I-CA)
Chase Oliver(L-GA)
Dr.Jill Stein(D-MA)
Former Pres.Donald Trump(R-FL)
Sen.J.D.Vance(R-OH)
Gov.Tim Walz(D-MN)
Dr.Cornel West(I-NJ) 		2024 presidential primary contenders:
Pres.Joe_Biden(D-DE)
N.D.Gov.Doug Burgum(R)
N.J.Gov.Chris_Christie(R)
Fla.Gov.Ron_DeSantis(R)
S.C.Gov.Nikki_Haley(R)
Ark.Gov.Asa_Hutchinson(R)
Former V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
U.S.Rep.Dean_Phillips(D-MN)
Vivek_Ramaswamy(R-OH)
S.C.Sen.Tim_Scott(R)
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Page last updated: Mar 13, 2026