Policy
City & State’s 2026-27 Pennsylvania state budget tracker
Legislative leaders passed a budget bill in April, though negotiations on a final product are ongoing.
Gov. Josh Shapiro gives his fourth budget address in February 2026. Commonwealth Media Services
After last year’s budget impasse stretched more than 130 days behind schedule, Pennsylvania lawmakers are hopeful they can avoid a similar delay this year. Gov. Josh Shapiro presented lawmakers with a $53.3 billion spending plan in February and negotiations are ongoing as state officials eye the commonwealth’s June 30 budget deadline.
City & State has put together a budget tracker for the 2026-27 fiscal year, offering an up-to-date look at the state budget's progress through the legislative process.
April 14, 2026: House lawmakers pass budget bill
On Tuesday, April 14, House lawmakers passed a General Appropriations bill with bipartisan support, advancing the bill to the Senate in a move that could make it easier to advance a negotiated state budget once Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration and lawmakers agree on a final product closer to the state’s June 30 budget deadline. The legislation, House Bill 2400, was advanced by the state House with a 107-94 vote on April 14, with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle acknowledging that the bill’s passage is a first step in an ongoing budget process.
“Today’s passage of the proposed state budget is an important step in moving the General Appropriations bill process forward and keeping us on track to deliver an on-time budget for the people of Pennsylvania,” House Appropriations Committee Chair Jordan Harris said in a statement, noting that negotiations on the budget are ongoing. “This bill passed the House with bipartisan support, reflecting a shared commitment to moving this budget forward and getting a budget done on time.”
Following the House vote, Senate Republican leaders said they continue to have concerns about the level of spending in Shapiro’s proposal. “We continue to have profound concerns about the level of spending in the budget proposed by Governor Shapiro and passed by the House today,” Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman and Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Scott Martin said in a joint statement.
“Moving a budget plan forward is an important step in the process, but much work remains to reach a final agreement which respects taxpayers both now and in the future,” the trio added. “We will continue to fight for a more fiscally responsible spending plan that better positions our Commonwealth to grow and prosper, without placing unreasonable financial burdens on Pennsylvania families and taxpayers.”
Feb. 3, 2026: Shapiro presents $53.3B budget proposal
Gov. Josh Shapiro presented his fourth executive budget proposal to state lawmakers Tuesday, Feb. 3 – a $53.3 billion spending plan that called for continued funding for education and law enforcement, reforms on issues such as housing and data center development, and renewed calls for new revenue sources, including recreational marijuana and skill gaming machines. Democrats in the General Assembly praised Shapiro’s budget proposal, with House Appropriations Committee Chair Jordan Harris calling it a budget “that works for Pennsylvania and protects Pennsylvania.” Republican leaders, however, said the level of spending in the budget was too high. “The governor simply wants to spend too much money in this budget, period. Full stop,” Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman said following the governor’s budget address.
In the weeks following his budget speech, lawmakers in the state House and Senate held a series of appropriations hearings to gather more information on the spending levels and policy proposals in Shapiro’s budget pitch.