MADISON, WI- (WGBW) – Governor Tony Evers delivered his seventh State of the State address Wednesday night from the podium of the Wisconsin Assembly floor. He declared 2025 “The Year of the Kid” in Wisconsin and called for initiatives to lower costs for working Wisconsin families.

Evers started his speech with an appeal for bipartisan cooperation and action, highlighting the change in legislative maps that affected the 2024 elections.

“For the first time in a generation, this Legislature was not elected under some of the most gerrymandered maps in America,” Evers said. “I am hopeful this will mean more collaboration, more partnership, a little less rancor, and a renewed commitment to do the right thing for the people of Wisconsin.”

The Year of the Kid

Even before he announced 2025 as “The Year of the Kid,” Evers addressed school funding and implored the legislature to release the $50 million meant to fund Act 20, which aims to improve reading scores for school children.

“The legislature need not wait until I introduce my budget to get to work,” he said. “Republicans can start the day by releasing the 50 million dollars we approved by bipartisan support nearly two years ago. These funds are already approved. They are available now, and they should not still be sitting in Madison. Folks, our kids, and their future are too important for politics. Republicans, please release these investments so that we can get to work improving reading outcomes statewide.”

As part of the “Year of the Kid,” Governor Evers introduced the “Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids” initiative that would provide free meals to all school children, end school meal debt, and modernize bubblers in schools to remove the chance for lead exposure to children.

The governor’s speech mentioned ways to lower costs for Wisconsinites, from increasing childcare options to lowering prescription drug costs to fighting price gouging. He also called out several spending initiatives he wishes to implement in “The Year of the Kid.”

Gun Reform

Evers called for robust gun reform while acknowledging that for Wisconsinites, guns are a part of life and culture.

He proposed two policies.

Background checks for all firearm purchases.
Red Flag Laws would allow families and law enforcement to remove all firearms from the homes of persons thought to be at risk to themselves or the public.

“We cannot let common sense get lost in debates over whether basic policies could have prevented the most recent shooting, or the one before it, or the one before that. We aren’t here in Madison to quibble about the semantics of the last shooting. We are here to do everything we can to prevent the next one,” Evers said. “This Legislature must do better than doing nothing.”

He also suggested laws for keeping firearms out of the hands of domestic abusers.

Governor Tony Evers delivers the State of the State address to Wisconsin legislators. Photo: Kathryn Lake/Civic Media

Suicide Prevention and Mental Health

Evers got the most emotional in his speech when discussing suicide prevention efforts. He mentioned calling 9-8-8 for immediate help for those struggling but also suggested several reforms to address the 932 deaths by suicide in Wisconsin in 2022, of which 60 percent involved a firearm.

“If you talk to someone whose loved one died by suicide, many will tell you their loss was not a foregone conclusion. That maybe—just maybe—if the person they loved had just made it through one more dark night to see with certainty that the sun again would rise, things might have ended up differently. Tonight, I’m asking this Legislature to give the next family, and the next one, and the family after that, hope for that same opportunity.”

Evers asked the legislature to restore the 48-hour waiting period for gun purchases in Wisconsin. He also introduced the “Self-Assigned Firearm Exclusion” Program or SAFE. The program would allow residents to voluntarily register to temporarily prevent themselves from purchasing firearms.

He also encouraged the legislature to consider increasing mental health services for children and all Wisconsinites.

For children, he said in his budget proposal he would invest nearly $300 million to provide comprehensive mental health services in schools statewide, expanded mental health training, and peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs.

“Let’s start treating our state’s mental health crisis with the urgency it requires. Yes, for everyone of every age. But especially for our kids,” he said. “The state of our kids’ mental health continues to be concerning for me, both as a governor and as a grandfather. A kid in crisis may be distracted or disengaged and may not be able to focus on their studies if they are able to get to school at all.”

Childcare

It wouldn’t be “The Year of the Kid” if childcare wasn’t a topic of conversation. Evers said a report in 2023 showed childcare costs can take up 18 to 36 percent of a family’s income.

“Child care is too darn expensive. We have to make child care more affordable and accessible. This is as much about doing what is best for our kids as it is doing what is best for parents in our workforce and our economy, too.”

He proposed continuing funding for Child Care Counts, making the program permanent and investing $500 million to lower childcare costs, supporting the industry and investing in employer-sponsored child care.

Prescription Drugs

Continuing the theme of reducing costs for Wisconsin families and making life more affordable, Evers called for caps on prescription drugs.

“The costs of prescriptions and life-saving medication like insulin are also too darn high,” he said. “No Wisconsinite should have to choose between paying bills and putting food on the table or getting their life-saving medication. Accessing healthcare and picking up basic prescriptions or insulin should not break the bank, folks.”

Evers said his “Less for Rx” plan would set price ceilings for prescription drugs, improve oversight of drug companies, and remove the sales tax on over-the-counter medications. It would also cap the copay on insulin at $35.

National Issues

Governor Evers wrapped up his State of the State by addressing national issues such as immigration, The Affordable Care Act, women’s reproductive rights, and protections for LGBTQ children.

He said immigrants are a large part of the state’s economy, providing labor for industries and companies across the state, from agriculture to manufacturing.

“Let’s agree to be honest about the fact that the story of our state’s success today is told in the labor of over 3 million Wisconsinites, including tens of thousands of workers whose only transgression to date was not having the good fortune of being born in this country,” he added.

He said he would fight all efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, veto any bill that reduces access to abortion, birth control, infertility treatments, or any other part of reproductive care, and would work to protect LGBTQ kids.

Evers said, “I will veto any bill that makes Wisconsin a less safe, less inclusive, and less welcoming place. And I will never stop delivering on my promise to use every power available to me to defend you, protect your rights, and keep you safe.”

Legislators listen to Governor Evers’ State of the State address in Madison Wednesday. Photo: Kathryn Lake/Civic Media

Republican Rebuttal

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos delivered the Republican rebuttal. He called out the governor’s policies as increased spending, at a time when the legislature wants to cut taxes.

“We have the largest one-time surplus in state history,” Vos said. “And instead of talking about how to return that money to working families, tonight. Governor Evers prioritized adding more spending and growing the size of government.”

Next month, on February 18th, Governor Evers plans his budget address where we’ll learn what he is including in the next biennial budget.

Want More Local News?

Civic Media

The Civic Media App