Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will deliver her annual State of the State address about a month later than normal, suggesting she has more important matters over the coming weeks.

On Thursday, House Speaker Matt Hall confirmed Whitmer is scheduled to deliver the State of the State on Feb. 26. In each of the last four years, Whitmer delivered the address in January. In 2019, it was Feb. 12.

“While you previously shared a version of your State of the State address in January, this additional opportunity to speak before the full Legislature provides an important moment for us to directly engage with you and discuss Michigan’s future,” Hall, R-Rich wrote in a letter to Whitmer confirming the date.

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“We delivered a detailed roads plan to you earlier today that would increase funding by more than three billion dollars and do it without raising taxes by one dime,” the letter read. “Perhaps your address on February 26 will be the right time to share the details of your plan to solve our state’s long-time roads and infrastructure crisis.”

Whitmer told reporters this week she delayed her State of the State this year out of courtesy to President-elect Donald Trump, who will be sworn into a second term on Monday, the Detroit Free Press reports.

“I wanted to be respectful,” she said Wednesday. “The President will take his oath of office next week and I know a lot of the leadership in Lansing will be out there.”

The governor’s comments on the delay came just a day after Whitmer announced on X she’s going on tour to promote another edition of her new book. The tour launches the same week Whitmer typically gives the State of the State address.

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“I’m so excited to introduce my new book, TRUE GRETCH-YOUNG ADULT EDITION to teens and readers across the country starting this month!” Whitmer posted Tuesday. “I’ll be distributing signed copies of the book at @SchulerBooks at the end of the month, and then I’ll then be headed to New York City for an even @92ndStreetY in conversation with @BusyPhilipps on 1/27!”

“Stay tuned for updates soon about more upcoming tour stops in Traverse City, Ann Arbor, and across Michigan, as well as Washington, D.C., Coral Gables, Indianapolis, and more!” Whitmer posted.

The tour is the second for the same book, following stops at late-night talk shows, events, bookstores, and other destinations in multiple states last year to promote “True Gretch: What I’ve Learned About Life, Leadership, and Everything in Between.”

Next month’s State of the State, Whitmer’s second to last before term limits force her out of office in 2026, will focus on her economic and education agenda, according to a press release cited by the Free Press.

“Michigan is a state on the move as we continue working together to create good-paying jobs, fix our roads, and invest in our students and schools,” Whitmer said in a statement. “I look forward to delivering my 2025 State of the State Address where I will lay out my plan to build on our years of strong, bipartisan progress and strategic, fiscally responsible leadership.”

Among the most pressing issues is Whitmer’s unfulfilled campaign promise to “fix the damn roads,” which she discussed in concept during a speech at the Detroit Auto Show this week.

Unlike Hall’s roads plan, which would generate $3.1 billion toward a $3.9 billion shortfall largely through changes to taxpayer-funded corporate subsidies and tax distributions, Whitmer insisted in Detroit new taxes would be necessary to address the state’s crumbling roads.

“Fixing the damn roads means we all need to recognize some hard truths,” Whitmer said. “To my friends in the GOP: fixing the roads in a sustainable way means looking for new, fair sources of revenue. We can’t just cut our way to better roads.”

Hall’s road funding plan suggests otherwise by maintaining critical public safety and health funding, while shifting funds currently dedicated to corporate business incentives and legislative pork spending to local roads.

The plan would permanently dedicate $2.2 billion from the Corporate Income Tax to roads by stripping out $500 million each in legislative earmarks and Michigan Economic Growth Authority tax credits. Another $600 million would come from higher than expected tax returns outlined by the state’s revenue estimating conference last week, while about the same amount would be saved by reworking deposits into the state’s corporate attraction, placemaking, and development funds.

“Those deposits sunset next year, freeing up this funding in the budget,” according to a Thursday press release. “Future … deposits will now need to be sold to the Legislature on the merits and on a case-by-case basis.”

Other funding for Hall’s roads plan would come from permanently dedicating all motor fuels taxes to roads, which would provide $945 million.

“The plan removes the sales tax on gas and replaces it with a revenue-neutral motor fuel tax, which goes entirely to roads,” according to Hall’s news release. “Drivers will see no difference, but roads will receive more repair funds.”

The Republican road funding plan is among other legislative priorities the speaker contends will bolster public safety and infrastructure, while increasing transparency and accountability to taxpayers.

“Crucial investments in water and sewer infrastructure, as well as the establishment of a Public Safety Trust Fund, guaranteeing ongoing support for law enforcement and emergency services across the state will also be key pillars of priority for House Republicans,” according to the news release.

“Additionally, transparency reforms will be front and center during the 103rd Legislature – House Republicans will target earmarks, lame-duck reform, and the revolving door between government and the lobbying industry to ensure that the people’s business is done with full accountability.”