Utah Gov. Spencer Cox delivered the State of the State address on Jan. 23, 2025, where he named five initiatives and emphasized the need for new infrastructure, affordable homes and a strong community.
“If there is one thing you take away from my remarks tonight, please let it be this simple refrain: We must build,” Cox said.
Two of Cox’s initiatives include infrastructure and affordable housing. His goal under the Utah First Homes program, led by Sen. Lincoln Fillmore and Rep. Stephen Whyte, is to build 35,000 single-family starter homes within the next five years.
Cox also wants to streamline the process of approvals for new infrastructure and energy projects.
He said the federal government took over 15 years to approve Utah’s newest transmission line. Cox is working with federal officials to fix this slow process. He wants to maintain environmental stewardship throughout the infrastructure changes.
Another initiative is energy abundance through the creation of a nuclear reactor. Through Operation Gigawatt, Cox said, he will “unleash Utah’s immense energy resources and drive prices down, all while making our grid more secure and reliable.”
The governor’s fourth goal, community safety and support, addressed homeless initiatives in Utah. Cox allocated $193 million of the budget to support the homeless across the state. He said a balance of compassion and accountability is already yielding results.
Gov. Cox’s final initiative is strengthening families. That includes recent moves to eliminate the tax on social security benefits, taking phones out of schools and rethinking social media practices.
“I am so proud that Utah has led a weary nation in protecting the youngest among us,” stated Cox. “By empowering parents who want to shield their children from predatory social media practices.”
Cox plans to implement his initiatives throughout his term, calling the people of Utah his driving force.
“Utah, we must build. May God bless us, our nation and this great state as we build together.”
Author: Hannah Clove
Photos courtesy of Isaac Hale and Francisco Kjolseth
Editor: Anna Mower
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