Dayton also endorsed legal same-sex marriage in his speech, in remarks likely to echo through the Capitol if lawmakers take up the issue this spring as widely expected.

While acknowledging the issue is "controversial," Dayton said he believes "every Minnesotan should have the freedom to marry legally the person she or he loves, whether of the same or other sex."

While Dayton has previously endorsed legal same-sex marriage, he had been reluctant to wholeheartedly endorse a legislative push on the issue in 2013. Including it in his State of the State speech is likely to hearten activists preparing to push the issue at the Capitol.