Education

Pennsylvania has a court-ordered obligation to fix our unconstitutional education funding system. For the past 2 years, Governor Shapiro and state Democrats have successfully led the effort to meet that obligation. This budget continues to correct Pennsylvania’s broken education funding system, so every public-school student has access to a 21st century education. That’s why this budget proposal includes:

• $8.3B for Basic Education ($50M increase from FY25-26)
• $1.5B for Special Education ($50M increase from FY25-26)
• $75M in annual school savings from additional cyber charter school funding reform
  • Pennsylvania saved $175M in 25-26 from initial cyber charter school funding reform
  • In total, school districts will save $250M annually
• $35M for student teacher stipends ($5M increase from FY25-26)

Housing

Governor Shapiro and state Democrats want to make housing affordable for both renters and homeowners. The Governor’s Pennsylvania Program for Critical Infrastructure Investment will also support housing along with other sectors in PA. The program would invest billions into infrastructure projects across energy, housing and school districts and local governments. His budget proposal also includes a number of policy proposals that will:

• protect the rights of renters, including a statewide cap on rental application fees
• support manufactured homeowners
• tackle tangled titles
• plan and implement

Economic Development

Pennsylvania is on the rise under the leadership of Governor Shapiro and state Democrats, expanding opportunities for our economy to grow. By supporting main streets, attracting private investments, and supporting workers, Pennsylvania continues to be the only growing economy in the northeast United States. To build on this momentum, this budget proposal focuses on:

• Bringing new, high-paying jobs to Pennsylvania with $100 Million for Innovate in PA 2.0.
• Providing opportunities for learning and skills development with apprenticeships, internships, and training programs.
• Raising the minimum wage to a livable wage so all Pennsylvanians can support themselves and their families with dignity.
• $1 billion in annual savings from closing the Delaware Loophole.
• Simplifying and streamlining Pennsylvania’s corporate tax system.
• $12.5M for Workforce and Economic Development

Community Safety

Governor Shapiro and state Democrats are delivering safety we can feel in our communities by investing both in first responders, and in violence intervention programming. Together, we will continue to make investments in community organizations doing critical violence prevention work, as well as supporting those who run towards danger to deliver help, safety, and resources. That’s why this budget proposal includes:

• Over $80M for gun violence prevention ($6.2M increase from FY25-26)
• $10M for Nonprofit Security Grant Program
• $75M for Firefighters and EMS ($30M increase from FY25-26)
• $16M for 380 new state police officers
• $7.5M for Indigent Defense
• $10M to support the 988 mental health crisis hotline
• $1M for 211 essential community services hotline, which includes access to free and confidential crisis and emergency counseling, disaster assistance, food, health care and insurance assistance, stable housing and utilities payment assistance, employment services, veteran services and childcare and family services.