Ogden, UT – In his annual State of the State address on Thursday, Utah Governor Spencer Cox called on lawmakers and residents to embrace a renewed commitment to growth and innovation. Speaking to a packed chamber at the Utah Capitol, Cox framed the speech as a call to action for the state to once again embody the pioneering spirit that shaped its early history.
“The time for building is now,” Cox said, highlighting what he described as a growing gap between America’s ideals and its recent actions, particularly in the areas of infrastructure, housing, and technology. He emphasized that the U.S. had once been a global leader in these fields, a leader forged through determination and rapid growth in the 20th century. However, Cox argued that a combination of overregulation, NIMBYism (Not In My Backyard), and bureaucratic inertia had caused the nation to stagnate.
“We stopped building infrastructure,” Cox explained, lamenting that outdated processes and special interests had blocked necessary projects. “We stopped building technology,” he continued, warning that the U.S. had ceded too much of its critical industries to foreign adversaries. “And worst of all, we stopped building resilient people,” he added, citing concerns about the mental and physical health of American teens and the nation’s declining birthrate.
Despite his grim assessment of the national situation, Cox found hope in Utah’s track record of innovation and growth. Reflecting on the state’s history, he drew a parallel between Utah’s early settlers, who transformed the barren Salt Lake Valley into a thriving region, and the state’s present-day potential to overcome challenges through collective action.
“Utah is still an outlier,” Cox declared, invoking the state’s resilience in the face of adversity. “We have always found a way past pessimistic prognostications.”
However, Cox acknowledged the concerns many Utahns have regarding the state’s rapid growth, particularly in relation to housing affordability and infrastructure pressures. He pointed to the challenges of balancing growth with quality of life, citing a 1942 article from the Deseret News that warned the state’s resources were insufficient to support future population growth. Yet, Cox noted, Utah’s population has grown sixfold since then, from 580,000 to over 3 million, without sacrificing the state’s livability.
“We must build,” Cox asserted. “When we are united and act together, we have always found a way.”
The governor laid out his vision for bold action in five key areas:
- Housing Attainability: Cox emphasized the need for regulatory reform to encourage the construction of affordable housing. He pointed to his administration’s Utah First Home program, which aims to build 35,000 starter homes over the next five years. The governor described housing as “the defining issue of the next several decades” and urged lawmakers to prioritize legislation that promotes attainable housing development.
- Energy Abundance: Cox called for increased energy production, specifically advocating for advanced nuclear reactors and the state’s role in becoming a net energy exporter. He announced plans under the Operation Gigawatt initiative to double Utah’s energy output over the next decade, helping to drive down prices and ensure grid security.
- Infrastructure and Permitting Reform: Cox criticized the lengthy approval processes for large-scale infrastructure projects, citing the 15 years it took to approve the TransWest Express transmission line. While he acknowledged federal delays, Cox promised that Utah would continue to lead by streamlining its own permitting processes, ensuring faster project delivery without compromising environmental stewardship.
- Community Safety and Support: The governor emphasized public safety reforms aimed at balancing accountability with compassion, especially in the context of homelessness. Cox also praised efforts to position Utah to assist in the federal government’s immigration policy, emphasizing the importance of both security and dignity in the state’s approach to these issues.
- Family Strength: Lastly, Cox called on lawmakers to eliminate Utah’s tax on Social Security benefits, a measure he described as long overdue. He also highlighted the state’s efforts to protect children from harmful social media practices, positioning Utah as a leader in safeguarding the mental health of young people.
In his closing remarks, Cox presented Utah’s current moment as a pivotal one. “We stand at a fork in the road,” he said. “We can either press forward with our pioneer spirit, our grit, our industry, and our faith — or we can be washed away in the negative, nationwide malaise of dysfunction.”
By framing his speech in terms of Utah’s continued commitment to growth, resilience, and unity, Cox urged state leaders to take bold steps toward addressing the challenges of the future. His call to action was clear: Utah must continue to build — for the present and for future generations.