Lowering Costs
Over the past few years, we rolled back the retirement tax and quintupled the Working Families Tax Credit. Thanks to those cuts, this year, hundreds of thousands of senior households will save an average of $1,000 on their taxes and 650,000 families—including half the kids in Michigan—will get an average tax refund of $3,200. Together, we put $1 billion back in Michiganders’ pockets. And we are feeding all 1.4 million public school students free breakfast and lunch, saving families nearly $900 a year per kid on groceries.
But Michiganders are still struggling with high costs from housing to energy to child care. President Trump's proposed 25% tariffs could jack up costs for families by an average of $1,200 a year as companies pass their costs on to consumers. As governor, I do not have control over global inflation or international tariffs. But I am doing everything I can to protect Michigan consumers and lower costs for Michiganders.
 To lower the cost of housing, I announced my proposal for the State of Michigan to make the largest investment to build housing in Michigan history—for the third year in a row, totaling almost $2 billion to build, buy, or fix 11,000 homes while creating 10,000 construction jobs. That’s a big deal.
To lower the cost of medical debt, I called for bipartisan action to reduce this burden that impacts nearly 700,000 Michiganders and build on the $4.5 million in medical debt relief that Michigan secured in a previous budget.
To lower the cost of energy, I highlighted bipartisan legislation I signed last month to expand the Michigan Energy Assistance Program, saving up to 335,000 more Michigan families money on their utility bills.
Finally, to lower the cost of child care, I called on the legislature and federal government to work with me to continue expanding affordable child care. That includes passing my proposed budget continuing free pre-K for every four-year-old in Michigan, saving parents $10,000.
 Creating Jobs
We want to make it as easy as possible for Michiganders to support their families at high-skilled, good-paying jobs. That’s why we have created thousands of apprenticeships, delivered free community college for every high school graduate, and made historic investments in roads, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy.
 Michigan Reconnect is making a real difference for Michiganders like Anthony. In 2021, we launched Michigan Reconnect, a bipartisan program offering anyone 25 and older a tuition-free associate’s degree or skills certificate at their local community college. Today, more than 200,000 people have taken that first step.
However, young men are currently out-enrolled in Michigan Reconnect by women, 2-1. To help our young men learn more and earn more, I announced a forthcoming executive directive to make an active effort to reach more young men and boost their enrollment in higher education and skills training programs.
Michigan’s defense industry supports tens of thousands of good-paying jobs and adds billions to our economy every year. I called on the Trump administration, just as I did with President Biden, to support Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County with a new fighter mission, supporting hundreds of military families and thousands of good-paying jobs.
Another driver of jobs and growth is our roads. The Rebuilding Michigan plan I created in 2021 to invest $3.5 billion to fix our most heavily trafficked state highways and bridges is phasing out soon. We need a sustainable, long-term solution for local roads. That’s why I called on legislators to make a compromise that will keep fixing our roads without harming our schools or forcing commuters to pay more. Let’s get it done.
Delivering Results
Complex regulations and lengthy permitting times are making it harder for us to build things, lower prices, and get Michiganders employed.
 We just want to make it easier, faster, and cheaper for you to keep doing what you do best. That’s why I called on the legislature to work with me on a bipartisan, commonsense overhaul of both state permitting—so we can build stuff faster—and licensing, so we can cut red tape, streamline business, and make state government more responsive.
Every February, after I propose the budget, the legislature adds earmarks. In this year’s budget, I asked legislators for total transparency—from the start—on all earmarks. If you want to invest taxpayer money, put your name on it.
I also highlighted my budget proposal for more transparency in education, so that every parent can track school performance. The proposed budget also includes investments to implement literacy best practices and help kids read.
To improve student outcomes and protect student mental health and safety, I called for collaboration on bipartisan legislation to limit the use of smartphones in class and close a longstanding loophole to tax vapes.
What do people think when they "Think Michigan?"
For too long, Michigan’s brand has taken a beating. I ran for office to restore trust and rebuild the fundamentals. We’ve made so much progress over the last 6 years.
But Michiganders are still dealing with economic uncertainty and political division. The stories centered in my speech show Michiganders are tired of the games and want government to work for them.
We have an opportunity to pave a new way forward and lead. Because at our best, we’re strong and kind. And our kindness is our strength.
Let’s work together, welcome challenges, embrace differences, be strong and kind, and Think Michigan.
 Missed the speech live? Watch my entire 2025 State of the State Address online:
 Click here to watch Gov. Whitmer's entire 2025 State of the State Address
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