While it was a time of reflection, Wisconsin’s governor still wants to get some things signed into law before he leaves.
Gov. Tony Evers gave his last State of the State address to legislators in Madison last night, declaring 2026 “The Year of the Neighbor”.
He first highlighted several of the things he accomplished with bipartisan support from the Republican-controlled Wisconsin State Assembly.
“We improved our justice system, bolstered support for public defenders and DAs, and made the largest addition of circuit court branches in two decades,” he recalled. “We made sure firefighters and law enforcement officers can access workers’ compensation for Post Traumatic Stress.”
Evers also highlighted expanding the childcare tax credit, providing Medicaid coverage for telehealth services, and supporting peer-to-peer suicide prevention efforts.
Evers also thanked the Legislature for approving a part of a plan to lower monthly energy costs for working families.
Another thing he mentioned was the work done to get the Badger State out of the red and cut taxes.
“Thanks to our bipartisan efforts to cut taxes, Wisconsin taxpayers will see over $2 billion in tax relief annually, with most of those cuts going to the middle class,” he stated. “I not only kept my campaign promise that I would deliver a 10% tax cut for middle-class families, in fact, middle class taxpayers have seen an income tax cut of 23%, more than double what I promised.”
After discussing infrastructure, workforce initiatives, and increased tourism, he told state representatives that Wisconsinites are eager to continue progress and that lawmakers can’t lose focus on the future, even though it is an election year
Gov. Evers then criticized Republicans on a few issues, including not doing more during the “Year of the Kid.”
He then talked about school funding and how he says Republicans will not fund schools as they should be.
He blamed their lack of funding on rising school property taxes.
Gov. Evers said, “A 400-year veto isn’t an automatic property tax increase folks because that’s not how school funding works in Wisconsin. The legislature has rejected over $7 billion for K-12 schools that I have requested over the last four state budgets. If lawmakers want to have an honest conversation about property taxes, start there!”
He then talked about how Republicans did not make the Wisconsin Office of Violent Prevention permanent and voted against funding for the Victims of Crime Act programs
“I urge the legislature to send bills to my desk to codify the Office of Violence Prevention and fund Victim of Crime Act programs,” he declared. “Do this right thing and get it done.”
Gov. Evers then claimed there is no issue that Republicans addressed less than stopping gun violence in Wisconsin.
He then talked about coming together with the other side to work toward closing GBCI and implementing a reformed plan for other Wisconsin correctional facilities.
The governor said, “We also need to make sure the plan includes evidence base efforts to stabilize our skyrocketing prison population and reduce likelihood that people will re-offend, making our community safer and saving taxpayers on corrections costs down the road.”
The governor also discussed a study on nuclear energy and how data centers can be part of Wisconsin’s future.
“Wisconsin must embrace a future where we don’t have to choose between mitigating climate change and protecting the environment and creating good paying jobs and having a strong economy,” he announced. “We must do both.”
Evers finished his speech talking about federal issues and how he’s concerned about the future with what’s been passed in the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
He also explained that he wants to call a special session to propose a Wisconsin constitutional amendment banning partisan gerrymandering.
Meanwhile, Wisconsin’s Senate Majority Leader says Wisconsin is strong not because of Governor Evers, but in spite of him.
State Senator Devin LeMahieu gave the Republican response to Gov. Evers’ last State of the State address last night (February 18th) warning of what he says is a sign of what a Democrat-controlled Wisconsin could look like.
He specifically pointed to the governor’s 400-year veto.
“If the Democrats were in charge in Madison, Wisconsin would be a very different place,” he stated. “Jobs would flee to other states after they repeal the Manufacturers and Agricultural Tax Credit. Our increasingly mobile workforce would leave for states with lower income tax rates.”
LeMahieu then credited the state legislature for Wisconsin’s good footing, saying Republicans have cut taxes since 2011 and have been the cause of the state’s over $2 billion surplus.
The Oostburg Republican also highlighted a Republican-backed proposal to return some of the surplus to residents.
“This would come on top of the $1.5 billion in tax cuts for the middle class and retirees we already passed last summer,” he explained. “Our plan would use the remaining surplus to strengthen our commitment to special education above what we promised in the budget and dedicate $500 million to limit the property tax impact of the governor’s 400-year veto.”
LeMahieu also highlighted work to improve access to affordable healthcare and to fund road projects before ending his speech, saying the legislature is ready to work for you, and it’s up to Gov. Evers to make property tax relief a reality.
