Governor Kehoe’s State of the State Address: What to Watch For
When Governor Mike Kehoe steps up to deliver his State of the State address, he will be doing more than opening a new legislative session.
He will be setting the tone for Missouri’s economic future.
The annual State of the State address is where governors signal priorities, draw lines, and tell lawmakers what matters most. For Missourians paying attention as the 2026 legislative session begins, this speech offers an early look at which fights are coming and which reforms are finally within reach.
This year, one issue towers above the rest.
Income Tax Elimination Takes Center Stage
Governor Kehoe has made it clear that eliminating Missouri’s personal income tax is his top legislative priority. Taxes will be a central focus for the upcoming session, with lawmakers and the public watching closely to see how aggressively the governor pushes reform.
Across the country, states are moving away from income taxes as a way to attract families, workers, and investment. States without personal income taxes have shown that economic growth does not require punishing people for working and earning more.
Missouri now has an opportunity to join them.
Kehoe’s approach has emphasized responsible reform tied to revenue growth and long-term stability. For this moment to be transformational, it has to last
Eliminating Missouri’s personal income tax would be the single most powerful step lawmakers could take to strengthen the state’s economy. If the governor uses his address to call on legislators to act decisively, it will send a clear message that income tax elimination is not a talking point. It is the agenda.
Why This Moment Matters
The State of the State address reaches far beyond the Capitol.
It shapes media coverage, frames legislative debates, and signals to voters whether bold ideas will actually move forward. A strong, focused push on income tax elimination would put pressure on legislators to choose between growth and the status quo.
Missourians understand what is at stake. Lower taxes mean more money in their pockets. More money to put food on the table. More money to save. More money to allow them to breathe a little easier.
Eliminating the income tax is about competitiveness, freedom, and trusting the people of Missouri to decide how their hard-earned money is spent.
Public Safety Remains a Core Priority
While tax reform may dominate headlines, public safety is expected to be another key pillar of the governor’s address. Kehoe has already signaled that public safety will remain a central part of his legislative agenda alongside tax reform.
Missourians want safe communities. That means supporting law enforcement, holding violent criminals accountable, and ensuring prosecutors and courts are focused on protecting victims, not politics.
The Governor, with the help of Conservative Lawmakers, delivered a generational commitment to public safety last year. Missouri is waiting to see how they will follow it up.
Public safety is not optional; it’s a fundamental responsibility of government.
Other Signals to Watch For
Beyond taxes and public safety, Conservatives should listen closely for clues about the broader direction of the administration.
- – Regulatory reform that reduces red tape for small businesses
- – Efforts to rein in unelected bureaucracies
- – Support for election integrity and constitutional government
- – A firm stance against federal overreach
A Message Lawmakers Cannot Ignore
The State of the State is not just a speech. It is a challenge.
Governor Kehoe has the opportunity to tell lawmakers that this session is about results, not excuses. If income tax elimination is framed as the defining goal of the year, it will be difficult for legislators to hide behind delays or half measures.
Missourians are watching. They understand that moments like this do not come often. When they do, leadership matters.
The direction set in this speech will shape the debates ahead.
Lawmakers would be wise to listen.
Andy Bakker
Executive Director
Liberty Alliance USA