Governor Cox calls for literacy, housing reforms in January 22 State of the State address

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox used his annual State of the State ad­dress on January 22, to urge lawmakers to focus on education, housing affordability and civic responsibility as the 2026 legislative session begins.

Speaking to a joint session of the Utah Legislature at the State Capitol, Cox framed his remarks around the upcoming 250th anniversary of American indepen­dence, arguing that prosperity and freedom depend not only on policy choices but also on civic character and personal responsibil­ity.

Education and early literacy topped the gov­ernor’s policy agenda. Cox cited state data showing that nearly half of Utah’s third graders are not reading at grade level, calling literacy foundational to opportunity and self-government. He urged lawmakers to continue expanding early read­ing initiatives, describ­ing literacy as essen­tial infrastructure for a healthy democracy.

Housing afford­ability was another central theme. Cox warned that rising home prices and lim­ited supply threaten Utah’s long-standing culture of homeowner­ship, saying the state must avoid becoming “a place where families are locked out of own­ing a home.” He called for zoning reforms, streamlined permit­ting and infrastructure investments aimed at increasing housing supply, particularly for working families.

The governor also addressed homeless­ness, addiction and public safety, high­lighting fentanyl as an ongoing threat. He advocated a combined approach emphasizing accountability, treat­ment and recovery services, rather than enforcement alone. Cox said the state must continue expanding ac­cess to treatment while holding individuals and organizations ac­countable for traffick­ing dangerous drugs.

On technology and youth mental health, Cox urged lawmakers to consider stronger guardrails on social media platforms and reiterated his support for limiting student cellphone use during the school day. He argued that schools should be places of focused learning, free from constant digital distraction.

Throughout the ad­dress, Cox encouraged legislative restraint, cautioning against the assumption that more laws automati­cally lead to better outcomes. He urged lawmakers to priori­tize effectiveness over volume and to consider whether existing tools could better address complex challenges.

Democratic legisla­tive leaders responded after the address by emphasizing concerns about economic in­equality and access to services, signaling policy debates likely to emerge as the session moves forward.

Cox closed by ex­pressing confidence in Utah’s institutions and urging coopera­tion across political divisions as lawmakers begin their work.