Build baby build: Gov. Cox issues rallying cry during State of the State address

"To all Utahns in every corner of this state and anywhere in between, in every one of our 255 cities and towns, to Utahns of every race, background and creed, we must build today."

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah Gov. Spencer Cox delivered a rallying call for action during his annual State of the State address at the Utah Capitol on Thursday. “We must build.”

Speaking before lawmakers, state leaders, and residents in the Utah House Chamber, Cox outlined ambitious plans to tackle key challenges in Utah, including housing attainability, energy abundance, permitting reform, community safety, and family strength.

“For 180 years and counting, Utahns have been building our way out of problems, even when things looked impossible,” said Gov. Cox. “Utah is not done dreaming. We’re not done doing big things. And we’re not done building.”

Gov. Cox acknowledged public concerns about Utah’s rapid growth, citing historical examples of similar fears.

“I recognize that when I talk about building, some people get a little nervous. Some might even argue that we’ve blossomed a little too much,” Cox said. He shared a Deseret News headline from 1942 warning that Utah’s resources couldn’t sustain more growth, as well as an 1867 article describing resource scarcity in Sanpete County.

“Yet, Utah has added 3 million people—six times the 1942 population—while also improving the quality of life. How? The answer is simple, though not easy: We must build,” Cox said.

He credited Utah’s success to collective action and a history of overcoming seemingly insurmountable challenges.

Key Policy Priorities

1. Housing Attainability
Gov. Cox announced a goal to construct 35,000 starter homes within five years, aiming to make housing more affordable for Utah families. He called for reforms to regulatory processes, comparing the effort to post-World War II housing initiatives that spurred growth.

2. Energy Abundance
Cox pledged to position Utah as a leader in energy innovation, with plans to deploy advanced nuclear reactors and increase energy exports under “Operation Gigawatt.” He said the initiative will lower prices and enhance grid reliability.

3. Infrastructure and Permitting Reform
Highlighting a 15-year delay for federal approval of a transmission line, Cox advocated for streamlining permitting processes while maintaining environmental protections to speed up critical infrastructure projects.

4. Community Safety
Cox reaffirmed Utah’s commitment to compassionate yet accountable homelessness initiatives and called for protecting children from social media harm, including removing phones from schools.

5. Family Strength
The governor urged eliminating Utah’s tax on Social Security benefits, one of only eight states still imposing such a tax. He stressed the importance of empowering parents and fostering family resilience, stating, “When families win, Utah wins.”

Cox shared stories of Utah pioneers who tackled infrastructure and technology challenges, using their ingenuity to pave the way for a thriving state. He pointed to individuals like John Moyle, Philo Farnsworth, and others whose efforts illustrate the essence of “Built Here.”

“History teaches us that in Utah, when we are united and act together, we have always found a way past pessimistic prognostications,” Cox said.