Originally published July 13 | Updated July 17
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has signed a $50.85 billion budget — almost two weeks after the deadline.
It includes no new taxes and doesn’t dip into the commonwealth’s $8 billion rainy day fund.
The state House and Senate passed it on Sunday.
Shapiro called it bipartisan and said it aligns with a promise he made when he became governor: “I promised to hold the good people of Pennsylvania as my North Star, to bring a GSD attitude to government, and to make it my driving purpose, every single day, to deliver for the good people of Pennsylvania.”
The Republican House Caucus called the bill a “reasonable compromise.”
Shapiro cited certain provisions — like a nearly $700 million increase in K-12 education funding, nearly $800 million to improve and repair state roads, and the state’s largest increase in funding for rape crisis centers — as major wins.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said the state budget increases funding to human trafficking and organized retail crime units, two areas of focus for his office.
Sunday also said the legislature passed several bipartisan bills that will impact public safety, including two aimed at combating human trafficking.
One is from Republican Sen. Cris Dush, which carries increased punishments for human trafficking for purposes of prostitution.
The other, from Delaware County Democrat Regina Young, requires training for hotel and hospitality staff who have frequent contact with guests.
“We can end human trafficking through education and encouraging people to speak up when they see something wrong. It takes all of us to stand up for victims and be vigilant in prevention.”
Fiscal code action championed by House Speaker and Philadelphia Democrat Joanna McClinton will require statewide law enforcement training on AI-generated child sexual abuse material.
There’s also $10 million included to help the agricultural industry recover from the crop freeze it faced in the spring.
And, retired police officers, firefighters, teachers and other state employees received their first pension payment increase in over two decades. The increases only apply to people who retired on or before July 1, 2001, after reaching their full retirement age or date.
Republican House Caucus called budget a ‘reasonable compromise’
Republican House Caucus called budget a ‘reasonable compromise’
