2025-26 Budget Highlights
While the budget is long overdue, the final product reflects Democratic priorities that will help struggling families, protect PA’s most vulnerable residents, strengthen our economy, improve our public schools, and make our communities safer.
- Support working families, fund education, keep communities safe.
- NO NEW TAXES.
- $193 MILLION for a BRAND NEW Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit (Family Earned Income Tax Credit)
- Putting money back in the pockets of working Pennsylvanians.
- $526M additional funding for education to fulfill Pennsylvania’s court ordered obligation to adequately and constitutionally fund our public schools.
- $175M in school district SAVINGS from cyber charter funding reform.
- $40M increase for special education fund.
- $125M for school facilities improvements.
- $100M for school safety and mental health.
- $30M for student teacher stipends.
- $25M for childcare retention and recruitment.
- $21M funding increase for direct care workers.
- $10M funding increase to provide home and community-based services to older Pennsylvanians (PennCARE).
- $11M funding increase for State Food Purchase Program and Farmers’ Market Coupons.
- $50M for special events coming to Pennsylvania (including America250, the World Cup, the NFL Draft, and the MLB All-Star game.)
Affordability
This budget provides some relief to those struggling Pennsylvanians through:
The creation of a new earned income tax credit for families (‘Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit’)
A new childcare recruitment and retention initiative to help address the childcare crisis
A funding increase for direct care workers who help take care of our family members
Increases to the State Food Purchase Program and Farmers Market Coupons Program to ensure those who are struggling with hunger and food insecurity due to the suspension of SNAP benefits can turn to our food banks and pantries with confidence
Education
Democrats secured:
A 2nd year of funding for Adequacy & Equity ($526M) in response to the Commonwealth Court decision declaring our school funding system unconstitutional
Additional funding for school districts that don’t have an adequacy gap to ensure fairness in resource allocation
A $40M increase in special education funding
Cyber-Charter School funding reform that will save school districts approximately $175M annually
Funding for structured literacy programs
$125M for school facilities improvements
$100M for school safety and mental health
Funding increases for Pre-K Counts and Early Intervention
Increased funding for PHEAA’s State Grant Program
A $10M increase for Student Teacher Stipends (PHEAA)
$7.5M increase for Grow PA Scholarships (PHEAA)
Safety
Democrats delivered:
$61M for the PCCD Violence Intervention & Prevention Program to provide targeted grants to reduce violent crime and gun violence in our communities
$10M for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to ensure our nonprofits that are susceptible to attack based on hate and bigotry have resources to protect themselves and their property
Additional funding for new PA State Police Cadet classes
Increased funding of the PA Attorney General to combat gun and drug crime, human trafficking, and organized retail theft in our communities
Economic Prosperity
Democrats secured:
A 2nd year of funding for Adequacy & $10M for Agricultural Innovation Development to assist our farmers ($526M) in response to the Commonwealth Court decision declaring our school funding system unconstitutional
The Department of Community and Economic Development received several allocations to continue to make targeted investments to create jobs and attract business to PA. Funding included:
- $8.8M BusinessPA, a NEW program focused on attracting and retaining businesses in PA
- $20M Main Street Matters
- $20M Historically Disadvantaged Business Assistance
- $13M Manufacturing PA, a program that provides training and workforce development opportunities supporting the manufacturing industry
- $2.5M Local Government Emergency Housing Supports
Additional improvements to the speed of the permitting process for infrastructure projects that impact the environment
Budget Documents
2025-26 Enacted Budget
(The 2025-26 Budget was signed by Governor Shapiro on November 12, 2025)
2025-26 Enacted Budget General Fund Appropriation (PDF)
2025-26 Governor’s Executive Budget (PDF)
2025-26 Proposed Budget General Fund Appropriation (PDF)
2025-26 Proposed Budget
(Introduced by Governor Josh Shapiro, February 4, 2025)
2025-26 Governor’s Executive Budget (PDF)
2025-26 Proposed Budget Line-Item Appropriation (PDF)
2025-26 Proposed Budget Slide Presentation (PDF)
2025-26 Proposed Budget Legislation
Governor’s Proposed Budget 2025-26 – Senate Democratic Appropriations Committee (PDF)
Budget Address
On Tuesday, February 4, 2025, Governor Shapiro delivered his 2025-26 budget address, presenting his plan for the fiscal year.
Governor Shapiro’s 2025-26 Budget Address as Prepared for Delivery
2025-26 Budget Hearings
Budget News
Senator Schwank Issues Statement of the Passage of the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year Budget
Harrisburg, PA — November 12, 2025 — Today, Sen. Judy Schwank voted to approve a $50.09 billion budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year. She issued the following statement on its passage, which brings an end to the months-long budget impasse: “I’m happy to get this done...
Schwank Applauds Inclusion of Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit in State Budget
Harrisburg, PA — November 12, 2025 — The 2025-26 state budget establishes the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit, a program developed through bipartisan legislation sponsored by Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) to provide tax relief for working families. Schwank and Sen....
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Celebrates the Passage of Historic 2025-26 State Budget
HARRISBURG, PA − November 12, 2025 − On Wednesday, November 12, 2025, the Senate of Pennsylvania passed the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget.
Bucks County Lawmakers Call on Senate Republicans to Do Their Job and Pass a Real Budget
BUCKS COUNTY − October 27, 2025 − One hundred and sixteen days after the June 30th budget deadline, Senator Santarsiero (D-10) hosted a press conference on Friday to call out Senate Republicans’ lack of leadership and failure to pass a responsible budget that...
Senator Cappelletti Responds to Senate Republicans Refusal to Engage in a Bipartisan Budget
Harrisburg, PA − October 21, 2025 − Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti (D-Montgomery/Delaware) today released the statement below in response to the Senate vote on Senate Bill 160: “Today’s actions on the Senate Floor were telling for more than a few reasons. Senate...
Senator Collett Votes Against Senate Republicans’ Budget Delay Tactics
Harrisburg, PA – October 21, 2025 –113 days after missing the deadline to pass a budget for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and 70 days after Senate Republicans voted to fund the state at outdated FY 24-25 levels, Senate Republicans continued their deliberate delay...
Budget Videos
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