Pennsylvania’s $50.8 billion budget has been signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro after passing in both the state House and Senate. The budget spends roughly $2.4 billion less than Shapiro asked for in his February address, and excludes a number of policies he requested to bring in new revenue, like legalizing recreational cannabis and regulating skill games. It contains more than $920 million in new state funding for public education spending and will institute new energy policies and a long-sought increase to the pensions of teachers who retired before 2001. Legislative leaders from both sides of the aisle described the package of bills that comprises the budget as a product of compromise — three separate senators quoted the Rolling Stones’ song “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” in floor speeches. Read more at the Capital-Star.
Source: Pennsylvania Capital-Star; 7/12/2026