Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, presented his 2025-26 budget plan in his third budget address to the state on Feb. 4. In his speech, Shapiro highlighted the state’s progress and emphasized the need for continued investments in education, mental health, special education, and energy regulation. He also called for the legalization of adult-use cannabis, citing the need to compete with neighboring states that have already legalized marijuana.
Furthermore, Shapiro proposed raising the minimum wage in Pennsylvania to $15, aligning it with neighboring states like New Jersey and New York. The budget also included funds for future events in the state, such as the 2026 NFL draft in Pittsburgh, FIFA World Cup games in Philadelphia, and the PGA Championship in Philadelphia.
However, notably absent from Shapiro’s budget address was a proposal for school vouchers, which he has failed to push through in the past due to opposition from Democrats in the state House. The budget includes accessing the rainy day fund to the tune of $4.5 billion and closing two state correctional facilities to save money.
The Pennsylvania legislature has until June 30 to pass the budget, with past years seeing delays and impasse in reaching an agreement. For more information on the budget, visit the pa.gov website.
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