(MissouriNet) — Governor Nixon will present his final State of the State Address tonight.

This will be Nixon’s eight Address to a joint session of the state’s General Assembly. In it he’ll lay out his legislative agenda and, per the constitution, his proposed budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

Nixon has given few hints to what his proposed spending plan will include, but he does intend to propose 131-million more dollars for programs helping those with developmental disabilities. He also plans to increase performance-based funding for colleges and universities as part of an agreement with them to freeze tuition.

Nixon’s tone has been more aggressive since his re-election in 2012 – it was the next State of the State after that, for example, that he called for Medicaid expansion under Federal Health Care reform – something Republicans oppose.
Republicans hope he’ll take a firm position on transportation funding and propose a pay increase for state employees.

Click HERE to view the State of the State Address LIVE starting at 7 p.m.