[ applause ] [ applause ] thank yall so much. Thank you all so much. President marsh, speaker mccutchen, members of the alabama legislature, chief justice stewart, justices of the alabama supreme court, distinguished guests, and my fellow alabamians [ applause ] yall please be seated. What a game. [ laughter and applause ] i was honored to attend last nights game and witness a remarkable victory for the university of alabama, which brings another National Title to the great state of alabama. [ applause ] im proud of coach saban and the entire alabama football team. Their victory is another example of excellence in our state, striving for continued excellence. We are so very proud of them. As we begin this 2018 legislative session, we recognize that alabama has experienced a significant transformation in State Government since the first day of the 2017 session. On this occasion, i sat where my good friend, president dale morris sits tonight. And now, due to a Successful Transition in State Government, i humbly stand before you as the 54th governor of alabama. [ applause ] ive been called on to report of the state of the state. When i became governor on april the 10th, our ship of State Government was adrift. We needed thoughtful and straightforward leadership. Over the past nine months, we have proven that alabamians see progress, not stagnation. Mr. President , mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to report that we have successfully steadied the ship of state and that [ applause ] i declare that the state of the state is strong and that our future is as bright as the sun over the gulf. [ applause ] tonight lets take a brief journey to consider where we are, where weve been, and where were going. Most governors have three months to prepare. I had three hours. Yet after being sworn in as governor on april the 10th, 2017, in the old senate chamber, just across the all from where were gathered tonight, i promised the people of alabama there would be no disruption in the ongoing functions of our State Government. Thats a promise kept. I promised the people that night that even though challenges lay ahead, we would seize opportunity and make alabama greater and improve our government to be more effective. Thats a promise kept too. And my immediate pledge that night was to steady the ship of state and navigate alabama through the storm that we found ourselves in, to seek a calmer path for our state, which we dearly love and are proud to call it home. That too is a promise kept. When i was sworn in, there were many decisions to be made. I was focused, committed, and prepared. My first full day was the 16th legislative day in the 2017 session, exactly halfway through a session, which i began as president of the senate. As governor last session, working closely with the legislature, i signed 333 bills and resolutions into law. Together, we made significant progress with our budgets. We have voted proration and practiced fiscal responsibility. We renewed the alabama jobs act, ensuring Economic Development continues and provided the tools and flexibility needed to attract new investments, creating more jobs for alabama families. Many of the bills that i signed also bore my signature from my time as president of the senate. The smooth transition of government brought me full circle. From legislative, to executive. And i am better able to govern and to lead because of it. I support having a Lieutenant Governor who presides over the senate. Our current order of succession serves the state well. I know this first hand, having just experienced it. I strongly support our current order of succession. My first major effort in leading the state was to evaluate the cabinet and the staff of the new administration. With this evaluation, i made changes resulting in nearly half of the 22 cabinet members being replaced. My cabinet and staff are capable, honest people. They take their job to serve the people of alabama seriously. They provide the people of alabama with open, honest, and transparent government that they deserve. My administration includes Public Servants who are subject Matter Experts and who work tirelessly to make alabama a great place to live, to work, to raise a family, and to educate our children. And id like to recognize the cabinet tonight. Would all of you please stand. These are outstanding Public Servants that we want to recognize. [ applause ] thank you so much. My second effort was to connect with and hear directly from alabamians so that together we would restore confidence in State Government. You know, an effective leader does four things listen, learn, help, and lead. And to lead and help the people of alabama, i knew it was essential that i first listened to and learned from the people of alabama. Throughout july, august, and september, i embarked on my listen, learn, help and lead tour. I visited communities all across the state. I spent an entire day meeting with local leaders in their communities, in their businesses and in their schools. I wanted to learn about their successes, what was working, what was not working, what are their challenges. I wanted to hear from everyday people, not just those who are politicians and lobbyists in montgomery. These meetings were beneficial and well attended. And i just believe our people were excited about getting reconnected with their governor. I wanted to restore our states image and to do this, government must be efficiency and transparent. With the executive orders, weve streamlined State Government, dissolved unneeded task forces, and banned lobbyists from appointments by the executive branch, thus ensuring more citizens have an opportunity to serve and to contribute. I also established the opioid, overdose and Addiction Council to address the urgent Opioid Epidemic that is impacting alabama families. Administratively, ive appointed more than 350 qualified and diverse individuals to boards and groups which affect the daytoday lives of alabamians. One of the most important duties of government is providing protection and safety for our people. And i have worked closely with the Alabama Emergency Management Agency and local officials across this state through six weatherrelated states of emergency. Through coordinated efforts, we have improved our communication and response to natural disasters. The people of alabama desire leadership that is willing to get things done. [ applause ] as a result of our team approach, i am proud to report alabamas economy is performing well. Revenues are up. Unemployment is way down. And Economic Development is on the rise. And improved Educational Opportunities abound. [ applause ] since i became governor, over. 3. 5 billion in new, direct investments have been committed to the state. These investments will bring forward 8,000 new jobs. The Unemployment Rate has fallen every month ive been in office. In our most recent unemployment numbers, 3. 5 . Folks, thats the lowest rate ever recorded in the states history. [ applause ] news of our economic successes seem to be a daily occurrence. In fact, i am proud to announce this evening that kim ber firearms will build a 38 million Production Facility in troy, bringing with it some 366 new jobs. [ applause ] these are good, high paying jobs that will enable more of our people to provide better for their families, while taking part also in the rich history of the second amendment. We are proud and honored to welcome kimber to alabama tonight. This announcement and countless others just like it, make one thing very clear. What were doing is working, and as a result, the people of alabama are working and providing for their families. [ applause ] when i meet with global ceos from across the country and the world, of companies who have firms here, or who are considering locates their firm here, they tell me that their alabama facility operates at a level that cannot be rivalled. My fellow alabamians, thats because of you, your dedication, your commitment to hard work. Companies choose alabama because of your ability to work hard and be dependable. When a Company Invests in alabama, theyre not just investing in our state. Theyre investing in you, the people. And we should do everything we can to help every alabamian find work. One of the most meaningful experiences that i have had since i was governor, was to participate in the first ever governors disability job fair, led by secretary of labor fitzgerald washington, Mental Health commissioner lynn ba sheer, dr. Graham sisom, and commissioner Jane Elizabeth bertshaw of the department of rehabilitation services. The fair consisted of more than 95 employers, and they were looking to fill 3,100 positions. Over 1,100 folks attended the disability job fair. One of those jobseekers is with us tonight. It is corinne mcdade. Corinne walked into the governors disability job fair on october 30th. She was looking for an opportunity. As a teenager, corinnes learning disabilities plagued her, until she saw no alternative but to drop out of school. She took ged classes at the Birmingham Career Center and was referred to work on resume writing, job development, interviewing, and placement. Rehabilitation services paired her with harold reynolds, an Employment Specialist with easter seals of birmingham, to prepare her for job interviews. During the fair, corinne met and interviewed with staff from the Southern HospitalityHome Health Care of fultondale. Within 48 hours, she had completed a second followup interview, and by the end of the week, she was employed full time as a Home Health Care aide. Corinne, i just want to thank you for being with us here tonight. Thank you for being an example of the Intrinsic Value we all have. And for being a reminder that what we as Public Officials do, affects the lives of real alabamians. Corinne, please stand. [ applause ] thank you so much, corinne. For alabamians to have career opportunities, they must be prepared when the right job comes along. In my education initiative, strong start, strong finish, we will coordinate our efforts to do just that. We will bring all stakeholders to the table in order to improve education all the way from prek through to the workforce. I instituted strong start, strong finish, because we must prepare our people for the jobs of today and for the jobs of tomorrow. By 2020, 62 of all the jobs to be available in alabama will require a post secondary certificate or degree. However, today, only 37 of our active workforce have such a credential. We must ensure that our students graduate high school and earn a post secondary certificate or degree. Effective education requires a Strong Foundation in a childs Early Childhood years. In 2017, under the leadership of secretary gina ross, alabamas first class prek program increased the number of classrooms to 938, statewide. Research shows us, friends, that those who participate in alabamas first class prek program, are more likely than other students to be proficient in reading and in math at every grade level. For the 11th year in a row, our first class prek program was recognized for being the highest quality prek in the nation. [ applause ] in fact, Harvard University is currently developing a fulllength documentary on alabamas prek program to share across the country with those interested in following our lead. Our first class prek is certainly a bright stop and bright spot in alabama. Were proud of our first class prek program. Im proud to have quickly become known as a governor focused on education. Over the past nine months, i have devoted a great deal of my time to my role as president of the board of state board of education. In less than two years, alabama has had four different k through 12 superintendents. That is not something to be proud of. The members of the state board of education must ensure continuity to see progress. Board members must set goals and adopt strategies to achieve Student Learning at higher standards. Our central focus must be on our students, not on personal agendas or political maneuvering. [ applause ] tomorrow marks my first full nine months since i unexpectedly became governor, and a lot has happened then. Weve lifted the dark cloud, wounds have started healing, and the peoples faith in a government of the people and by the people, is being restored. Though it is important to reflect on where weve been and where we are, its most important that we put most of our focus on where were going. Let me share with you a quote youve probably heard from time to time. Its very relevant to where we are as a state. What lies ahead of us, or what lies behind us, is of little importance when compared to what lies within us. And in that spirit, i say to you, instead of dwelling on what adversity we have faced or what mountains we may soon climb, we must focus on being who we are, a resilient people. A people dedicated to doing what is right and to making a difference in the world. Like always, our budgets are at the forefront of State Government. However, this year, we find ourselves in a unfamiliar position related to our budgets. We are clearly in the midst of our recovery from the Great Recession and unemployment is at an alltime low. Housing prices have increased for the third consecutive year, and alabama is rated 12th nationwide for financial health. [ applause ] when i came into office, the relationship between the executive and legislative branches was strained. But that too has been corrected. Ive worked closely with legislative leadership in the senate and house budget chairs to draft fiscally responsible budgets. Weve righted the ship of state, now my proposed budgets will move alabama in the right direction. Just as the alabama families sit around their Kitchen Table to figure out their budgets, to get them just right, we too must get the states budgets just right. And im proposing strong, manageable budgets, which responsibly fund State Government without raising taxes on the people of alabama. [ applause ] our improving economy allows us not just to fund state programs, but to expand the ones that are making a positive difference. Now, its tempting when times are not as tight as before, to spend generously, but colleagues, we must resist that temptation. As a lifelong conservative, i believe in being fiscally responsible and being good stewards of our taxpayer dollars. Not a single appropriated dollar belongs to government. Rather, it belongs to the hard working men and women who have earned it. [ applause ] in that vein, my general fund restores fiscal responsibility by paying down alabamas debt earlier than required. We will fund the government appropriately, but with prudence and care. As a positive sign of progress, there are fewer people eligible for medicaid today than a year ago. That is good news. And good news on the jobs front means more people are working and less dependent on government services. Accordingly, medicaid will require less general appropriations than expected. We are proving that conservative government creates economic growth. It lessens government overreach and it moves people toward selfsufficiency. Our Strong Economy with ample employment opportunities, positions us not just to cover the basics, as we have in the past years, but to ensure we fulfill our duty to the citizens of alabama. We will pursue efficient government, which makes good use of our resources while appropriately funding state services. Government is called on to protect the people and to serve the people. My General Fund Budget does just that. We will put more state troopers on our roads. We will add more corrections officers. All in an effort to serve and protect alabama families. [ applause ] perhaps one of the states Biggest Challenges is found is our prison system. For far too long, we have run our states prison system in a way that risks a takeover by the federal courts. Now one federal court heads found that our prisons are overcrowded and understaffed, due at least in part to facilities that are worn and old. Correctional professionals work diligently to provide security, medical, Mental Health and Rehabilitative Services in a challenging environment. They deserve our attention and support. And we must also work very diligently to provide appropriate care to those who are placed in the custody of the department of corrections. Immediately after taking office, i instructed commissioner jeff dunn and his staff, working closely with my staff, to develop a viable plan to address correctional staffing, which will improve the delivery of Inmate Health care and make Capital Investments in our infrastructure. We have commissioned comprehensive reviews to determine the compensation levels required to retain and recruit correction staff. We have entered contract negotiations with a new Health Care Provider to expand and improve Inmate Health care at a reasonable cost. I have also instructed the commissioner to hire a project Management Team to help