Abstract: Recent advances in laser technology allow for higher levels of quantum state control in materials. After a survey of recent experimental results, I will describe recent theoretical studies from my group exploring different mechanisms of quantum state control.  I will discuss situations of coexisting competing orders, Floquet engineering of pseudo-magnetic fields, and a scheme for opto-electrical control of chiral lattice structure for reversible, non-contact enantiomer control in a material.  The signatures of these states and transitions in various observables will be discussed.  I will conclude with an outlook on the field and important open questions.