Dunleavy uses State of the State to push resource development, education choice and public safety

Gov. Mike Dunleavy told a joint session of the Alaska Legislature that the state’s “state of the state is heading in the right direction,” framing his 2025 agenda around resource development, education choice and public safety.

Dunleavy, speaking in Juneau, said Alaska can grow jobs and population by unlocking oil, gas and mineral projects and by modernizing permitting and licensing. He praised a series of federal executive orders he said would open federal lands and regulatory paths for development and described ambitious energy projects including the Alaska LNG project, the Dixon Diversion expansion of Bradley Lake, and transmission upgrades for the Railbelt.

The governor said his proposed budget includes a Permanent Fund dividend figure and investments in education, public safety, energy, housing and child care. He repeated support for charter schools and other school choice measures, citing improved early literacy results since the Alaska Reads Act passed. He also credited state troopers and the MATSU Narcotics Enforcement Team for expanded drug seizures and announced requests for additional public safety positions.

Why it matters: Dunleavy’s speech knit together economic development plans with education and public safety priorities, seeking legislative buy-in for projects that would require state or federal permitting and, in some cases, substantial public and private investment. The address sets the governor’s priorities early in a session where both legislative chambers are controlled by bipartisan majorities not uniformly aligned with the governor’s agenda.

Dunleavy cited specific energy and mining projects as evidence of momentum: production at the Nuna field and first oil from the Pika project, continued investment by Hillcorp, and projected peak outputs from Willow and other North Slope projects. He called for a faster permitting regime and said the executive branch would review rules to remove regulatory barriers.

On education, Dunleavy highlighted the Alaska Reads Act and cited assessment data showing growth in early literacy at kindergarten through second grade; he also defended charter schools as “public schools” and advocated expanding options and funding. On public safety, he said the state added trooper and village public safety officer positions and highlighted large drug seizures attributed to state law enforcement.

The speech mixed policy announcements, promotional language for resource development, and appeals to bipartisan cooperation. Dunleavy closed with executive actions he will pursue, including introducing legislation on land access and timber, and an executive order to establish an Alaska Department of Agriculture to support in-state food production.

Dunleavy also recognized Alaska State Trooper Sgt. Jared Knoll and rugby Olympian Aleph (Alyce) Kelter as guests in the chamber.