SALT LAKE CITY — Governor Spencer Cox offered a civics lesson and pushed some key bills in the Utah State Legislature during his annual State of the State address to lawmakers and the people of the state.
In his remarks, he leaned heavily into quoting Founding Fathers on virtue, character and an appeal to everyone's better angels. He criticized political parties who focus on divisiveness instead of solving problems.
"We see it in both major political parties and those who represent us at the national level, making a mockery of Franklin’s virtues — rewarding grift, rejecting decency, and wantonly tearing down the very institutions that made us the envy of every nation. We see it in a culture that rewards outrage. Where attention is captured not by what is true or good, but by what is loud or divisive," he said.
Watch below as Gov. Cox shared his State of the State address:
WATCH Democratic Response to State of the State
Turning to bills in the Utah State Legislature, Gov. Cox praised legislation to boost child literacy.
"Our goal is this: every child reading well, early, and with confidence," he said.
He promoted policies on housing, declaring that "Utah will not become a state of renters."
"We must pull every lever to increase the supply of housing — reform zoning, streamline permitting, support infrastructure, and encourage innovation. If we want strong, stable, connected communities throughout Utah, we have to build more homes. That means less government, not more," he said.
But some housing advocates say Utah must do more for affordable housing.
"A housing wage — and this is to be able to afford a modest, two-bedroom apartment — you need to make $29.29 an hour," Zoë Newmann with the Utah Housing Coalition told FOX 13 News. "That’s a housing wage. That’s a statewide average. In other counties, you need to make $30 or $40 to afford a modest, two-bedroom apartment."
Gov. Cox urged a crackdown on fentanyl and funding to help the homeless. He has expressed support for a proposed campus planned for Salt Lake City, something critics have blasted as a "mega-shelter."
"Our mission is to make Utah the worst place in the country to camp on the street — and the best place to get help," the governor said in his address.
In the Democratic response to the State of the State, Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, said policies must be about affordability for Utahns.
"Across the country, families are facing real economic uncertainty. Because of federal irresponsibility, many are at risk of losing access to healthcare and other basic support programs. That makes our responsibility at the state level even more urgent," she said. "We cannot call our economy strong when children are going hungry, when housing is out of reach, or when parents are forced to choose between childcare and a paycheck."
Gov. Cox also turned to a frequent target: social media. While Utah is actively suing tech companies over alleged harms to the mental health of Utah's youth, he continued to criticize social media platforms and supported a bill to ban cell phones and other electronic devices from classrooms bell-to-bell.
"What social media companies do, without a doubt, is tyranny over the minds of our children and grandchildren — and well, us adults too," he said.
Democrats in their video address released following Gov. Cox's speech focused on issues like gun safety, housing, saving the Great Salt Lake, boosting public education and voter rights.
"At its core, representation is about trust. When people feel seen and respected by their government, our democracy works better. We are committed to building a Utah where every person knows they belong and has a voice in shaping our shared future," House Minority Leader Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, said.
While ribbing the legislature over the sheer volume of bills they pass, the governor did appear to offer some support to a new lawmaker's upstart bill. Rep. Clint Okerlund, R-Sandy, has filed a bill to limit the number of bills the Utah State Legislature considers.
"Godspeed to Rep. Okerlund with his very popular bill to limit bills. We love small government!" the governor said.
Rep. Okerlund told FOX 13 News afterward he wasn't sure if the governor was serious or not, but urged people to call their lawmakers and tell them to support his bill.
"I’m glad he brought some attention to it. I hope it at least brings some awareness," Rep. Okerlund said.
