MADISON, Wis. — On Wednesday night, Gov. Tony Evers delivered his seventh State of the State address highlighting the work he hopes to accomplish in 2025.

He spoke on issues like mental health, cutting taxes and child care.

What You Need To Know

  • Evers said 2025 will be a year with a focus on kids, mental health and taxes

  • On Wednesday night, Gov. Tony Evers delivered his State of the State address, highlighting the work he hopes to accomplish in 2025

  • Republicans said they support the "Year of the Kid," but want to go about it in the right way when it comes to spending and what types of programs to invest in

  • Republicans and Democrats said they believe tax cuts is an area they hope to find common ground on

He deemed 2025 as the “Year of the Kid.” He said he will put a focus on addressing mental health, with plans to invest over $300 million for comprehensive mental health services in schools statewide.

Democrats said this is a move in the right direction.

“I think that it’s great that we are focusing on our children, they are our future,” State Rep. Alex Joers, D-Westport, said. “We need to ask about how our schools are getting the funding that they need so we don’t have to go to referendum every time we need to pick up the operating cost. Child care is important, making sure our parents feel supported. It was great to hear those things in the speech tonight and I think that is what Wisconsinites want.”

Republicans said they support the “Year of the Kid,” but want to go about it in the right way when it comes to spending and what types of programs to invest in.

“I’ve got two children in child care,” State Sen. Romaine Quinn, R-Birchwood, said. “I am well aware of the cost of child care. I think there is more to be done on that. We differentiate on, do you cut checks to the center? Or do you cut checks to the parents? I think we all want some of the same things. It’s just how we go about doing it.”

In terms of working in a bi-partisan manner, Republicans and Democrats said they believe tax cuts are an area they hope to find common ground on.

“The governor emphasized the tax cuts he passed for working class and middle-class families,” State Rep. Greta Neubauer, D-Racine, said. “We know Republicans are interested in tax cuts. We are happy to have those conversations as long as they are targeted towards the people who really need the tax relief and not the wealthiest Wisconsinites,”

“We’ll see if the governor will actually go along with tax cuts for people who actually work, tax cuts for our seniors,” State Rep. Shae Sortwell, R-Two Rivers, said. “Or veto all of our great ideas like he has done in the past.”

Evers said 2025 will be a year with a focus on kids, mental health and taxes. He said he is hopeful to make an impact on Wisconsinites with his proposed initiatives and programs for this year.

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