Maryland Gov. Wes Moore Delivers Fourth State of the State Address

Moore touches on education, immigration, energy, affordability, redistricting and housing in wide-ranging speech

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Maryland Gov. Wes Moore delivered his fourth annual State of the State address on Wednesday, focusing on a range of issues including education, immigration, energy costs, and the impact of federal policies on the state. In his speech, Moore announced new initiatives like "Citizenship Maryland" to support immigrants, proposed $10 billion in funding for public schools, and called for action on rising energy prices.

Why it matters

As the governor of Maryland, Wes Moore's State of the State address outlines his administration's priorities and policy agenda for the year ahead. The speech provides insight into the key challenges facing the state and how the governor plans to address them, from education and immigration to energy affordability.

The details

In his nearly hour-long address, Gov. Moore touched on several major issues facing Maryland. On education, he highlighted improvements in academic performance and graduation rates, and announced a new $10 billion investment in public schools. Moore also blasted federal immigration enforcement efforts, announcing the "Citizenship Maryland" initiative to help eligible residents obtain citizenship. Regarding energy costs, the governor called for reducing the state's reliance on neighboring states and expanding renewable sources like solar and wind.

  • Gov. Moore delivered his fourth annual State of the State address on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.

The players

Wes Moore

The current governor of Maryland, first elected in 2022.

Steve Hershey

The Republican Senate Minority Leader for Maryland's 36th district.

Danielle Crankfield

A high school counselor with Anne Arundel County Public Schools, named the National School Counselor of the Year.

ALonna Soward-Puryear

An elementary school teacher in Frederick County, named the Maryland Teacher of the Year.

Ryan Durr

The principal of Meade High School in Anne Arundel County, named the Maryland High School Principal of the Year.

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What they’re saying

“It's easy to blame Washington, but Marylanders know better. Rising costs, energy prices and structural deficits didn't appear overnight, and they didn't start last year.”

— Steve Hershey, Senate Minority Leader (wbal.com)

“I want to thank you all for introducing legislation to protect Marylanders from the unconstitutional actions of some federal agents this session. Working together, I'm confident we can take meaningful steps to hold federal agents accountable for violating the Constitution and help those harmed get justice.”

— Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland (wbal.com)

What’s next

The Maryland state legislature will consider the governor's proposals, including the $10 billion in education funding and new initiatives on energy and immigration, during the current legislative session.

The takeaway

Gov. Wes Moore's fourth State of the State address outlined an ambitious agenda focused on key issues like education, immigration, and energy affordability. The speech highlighted the governor's efforts to address the impacts of federal policies on Maryland, while also proposing new state-level programs and investments to support residents.