Gov. Jay Inslee, who’s led Washington state for the past dozen years, delivered his final State of the State address Tuesday morning. Its theme? Progress.

In his final State of the State address to the Legislature, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee touted the enormous increase in state spending on various programs and services since he took office, while imploring lawmakers not to reduce spending as they write the upcoming biennial budget.

Also touching on the incoming Trump Administration, Inslee said, "We will not bend the knee to a would-be authoritarian's worst impulses."

Outgoing Gov. Jay Inslee addressed the Legislature on Tuesday, his last full day in office, bidding Washingtonians “fair winds and following seas” in the final speech of his 12-year run leading the Evergreen State. He spent several minutes on one of the most pressing issues facing the state this year: the budget.

Outgoing Gov. Jay Inslee delivered his final State of the State address to both chambers of the Washington Legislature on Tuesday. Though the yearly speech sets a tone for the 103 days of lawmaking, Inslee's address on the final full day of 12 years leading the state had an air of farewell.

In his final State of the State address to a joint session of the Washington Legislature, Governor Jay Inslee made a passionate plea to safeguard the state’s progressive achievements and protect vulnerable communities from the brunt of looming budget challenges.

The outgoing governor looked back on his 12 years in office and offered advice to lawmakers as they face a budget shortfall and new leadership in Washington, D.C.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, delivered his final State of the State address. His comments about President-elect Donald Trump elicited jeer from Republican lawmakers.