Leaders across Pennsylvania praise Governor Shapiro’s “thorough, commonsense” “practical” plan to cut costs, create opportunity, and get stuff done for Pennsylvanians.

“On Feb 5th’s budget proposal is a very solid plan to deliver critical growth, freedom, and opportunity to every Pennsylvanian.”

“This budget is a testament to Governor Shapiro’s commitment to hardworking Pennsylvanians.”

“I applaud the comprehensive budget that Governor Shapiro proposed on Feb 5th; it is committed to lowering costs for families by investing in critical priorities across our state.”

“Once again, Governor Shapiro has delivered a commonsense budget proposal that builds on our accomplishments over the past two years to ensure fairness in funding our schools, cut costs for working families, grow our economy and workforce, and strengthen our communities.”

Harrisburg, PA – On Feb 4th, Governor Josh Shapiro presented his 2025-26 budget proposal to the General Assembly and the people of Pennsylvania – a commonsense plan that builds on two years of progress, tackles pressing challenges, and paves the way for a stronger, more competitive Commonwealth. Governor Shapiro’s proposal cuts costs for Pennsylvanians, invests in economic growth, strengthens public safety, and continues bipartisan efforts to support students and workers — all while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

Lawmakers and leaders from all across the Commonwealth are praising the Governor’s budget proposal — recognizing its focus on workforce development; reducing health care, housing, and energy costs; investing in economic development; and continuing bipartisan efforts to support Pennsylvania students — all while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

Read what people are saying about Governor Shapiro’s 2025-26 budget proposal:

Legislative Leaders

Senator Jay Costa: “On Feb 5th’s budget proposal is a very solid plan to deliver critical growth, freedom, and opportunity to every Pennsylvanian. Governor Shapiro’s plan is a commonsense approach to progress in our state, balancing fiscal responsibility with a bold vision for improving the lives of our families and workers. From ensuring folks can get to work on functional roads and transit systems to unleashing our energy potential, Pennsylvania stands poised to seize the opportunities before us. I look forward to the next few weeks of budget hearings and collaborative discussions with my colleagues in all four caucuses as we move forward.”

Senator Vincent Hughes: “This budget is a testament to Governor Shapiro’s commitment to hardworking Pennsylvanians. It funds student teachers and schools, childcare providers, direct care workers, and opportunities for young people and adults to develop new skills and get high paying jobs. It introduces new money for affordable housing, lower utility costs, and tax relief for homeowners. We want the people of Pennsylvania to know we are listening, and we are fighting for them. While we continue to see chaos and reckless cuts out of Washington, Governor Shapiro and state Democrats are committed to protecting Pennsylvanians from paying more for basic necessities. We are focused on affordability. We are serving the people of Pennsylvania, not a handful of millionaires and billionaires.”

Senator Nikil Saval: “For years, advocates from across the state have worked tirelessly to show the devastating impact of Pennsylvania’s housing crisis, especially for poor and working-class households who face particularly steep barriers, and to point us toward the solutions we need. This advocacy has lifted the urgency of the housing crisis not just to a statewide conversation, but to a national one. Governor Shapiro’s budget proposal shows his commitment to being a partner in the fight for our homes and positioning our Commonwealth as a leader in legislating housing as an essential material need.”

Senator Maria Collett: “Every Pennsylvanian deserves the freedom to afford necessities like rent and groceries while maintaining the ability to save for a better future. Governor Shapiro’s budget focuses on putting more money back into working families’ pockets, growing our economy, and keeping our communities healthy and safe. I've heard from constituents expressing their concerns about the chaos unfolding in Washington, making our job at the state level more important than ever. I’m ready to get to work on their behalf to deliver a responsible budget.”

Senator Nick Pisciottano: “I am happy to see the governor taking the opportunity to continue addressing the long-term and systemic neglect of our public education system, a system that has been declared unconstitutional in its inequity. At the same time, I applaud the governor for investing in our police through the expansion and continued improvements to training and equipping our troopers. The governor’s proposed budget does not include a call for additional taxes, which is a win for all taxpayers. From lowering costs and raising the minimum wage, to equitably funding public schools and supporting first-time home buyers, the budget should lift Pennsylvanians of all ages in all regions. It is a thoughtful and balanced approach to governing, and I’m looking forward to filling in the details over the next several months.”

Senator Sharif Street: “This budget makes a historic investment in public education, with a strong emphasis on Philadelphia. Every child, regardless of their zip code, deserves a world-class education. It provides $1.8 billion for Philly schools, $8.2 billion for schools statewide, and $100 mil for school safety.”

Senator Patty Kim: “I applaud the comprehensive budget that Governor Shapiro proposed on Feb 5th; it is committed to lowering costs for families by investing in critical priorities across our state. While I recognize it as a starting point, the Governor’s Budget delivers with investments that will improve the everyday lives of constituents in the 15th District. I trust Governor Shapiro when he tells us “Pennsylvania is on the rise” and he has my support in passing a budget dedicated to lowering costs and keeping our families safe.”

Pennsylvania House Democratic Leaders: “Once again, Governor Shapiro has delivered a commonsense budget proposal that builds on our accomplishments over the past two years to ensure fairness in funding our schools, cut costs for working families, grow our economy and workforce and strengthen our communities. This budget proposal builds on last year’s landmark funding plan to ensure that every child in every school has the same access to a quality public education while simultaneously reducing the burden on local taxpayers. It aligns with House Democrats’ priority to fulfill our constitutional and moral obligation to adequately fund our schools. This budget also provides support to one of the Commonwealth’s biggest assets, our next generation of teachers. We also recognize that we must grow our economy if we want to ensure a prosperous future and this budget proposal cuts taxes to support and entice businesses to come here while leveling the playing field for Pennsylvania businesses by ensuring large, multi-state corporations pay their fair share. It also provides a plan to support mass transit and transportation infrastructure, which are critical to our economy and workforce. As we look toward the future, we must ensure that we can continue to support and invest in our many important programs and services. The governor’s budget proposal streamlines services and proposes new funding streams to support our revenues and cost cuts – all without raising taxes. We’re grateful that the governor has proposed a plan that puts Pennsylvanians first and we share his commitment to solve problems with common-sense solutions. We look forward to working with Governor Shapiro and the Shapiro Administration as we further examine the budget proposal at our upcoming budget hearings.”

Representative Pete Schweyer: “On Feb 5th, the Governor told the legislature and families across Pennsylvania that he intends to continue to build on the plan to ensure there is a quality education for every student from kindergarten to college regardless of their zip code. [...] The proposals the Governor outlined today are encouraging; and my committee is ready to get to work to advance these initiatives. I also look forward to having honest discussions and finding opportunities for consensus on key issues with my friends from across the aisle.”

Representative Elizabeth Fiedler: “I'm thrilled to hear Governor Shapiro voice his support for increased postpartum depression screening in his budget address.”

Representative Dan Frankel: “We share the Governor's vision of setting up a marketplace that will help small businesses and farms thrive in the long term, even within what we know is a cutthroat industry that heavily favors multi-state operators elsewhere.”

Representative Jessica Benham: “Thank you to @governorshapiro for prioritizing home care workers in this year’s budget. Right now, there’s only 1 worker for every 6 people who need care.”

Representative Lindsey Powell: “Governor Shapiro said it: PA's lack of eviction sealing makes LITERALLY no sense. An eviction filing, even without an actual eviction, can block families from housing and jobs for years. We fixed this for criminal records with Clean Slate. It’s time to do the same for housing.”

Representative Malcolm Kenyatta: “Love that Governor Shapiro is leading his budget address with a renewed commitment to invest in public education. I know @PaHouseDems are ready to work with him and @LGAustinDavis to get it done this budget!”

Representative Melissa Shusterman: “This budget hits all of the priorities for the people of Chester County and all of the Commonwealth. By investing in Pennsylvanians, young, old, and in between, we are giving all generations an opportunity to succeed and make their lives easier.”

Pennsylvania Leaders

Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato: “I applaud Governor Shapiro’s recognition of and funding increases for areas that are top priorities for my administration and the people of Allegheny County, especially in transit, childcare, public safety, job creation, and housing. I am particularly excited about the plan to invest strategically in housing. His housing plan will help us build on County-level investments we’ve already launched helping us ensure that more families can call Allegheny County home.”

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey: “We are grateful for this opportunity to strengthen Pittsburgh’s infrastructure, enhance public safety, and support community programs that make a difference in people’s lives. Governor Shapiro’s proposed investments will ensure that our city continues to grow and evolve as a place where everyone can feel safe, secure, and proud to call home.”

School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Tony Watlington: “We thank the Governor for his support and look forward to working with him and the Legislature to make this proposal a reality and ensure all of our students, regardless of where they live in Pennsylvania, have access to a high-quality, public education that prepares them to imagine and realize any future they desire.”

PSEA President Aaron Chapin: “We commend Gov. Shapiro’s remarkably strong commitment to public education. As a whole, this budget represents a major step forward in fully and fairly funding our public schools and addressing the educator shortage. While there’s no doubt that legislators, advocates, parents, and others will debate about specific line items in the proposal, the governor has absolutely knocked this budget out of the park.”

SEPTA: “SEPTA is very grateful to Governor Shapiro for proposing nearly $300 million in additional statewide transit funding as part of his budget today. This forward-thinking investment continues his leadership on this critical issue and demonstrates a strong commitment to improving Pennsylvania’s transportation infrastructure – transit, roads and bridges – ensuring stronger regional economies and better-connected communities across the Commonwealth. SEPTA is doing the hard work to improve safety, reliability and operational efficiency to ensure we maximize the public’s investment in its transportation system. We are eager to work with the Governor and the General Assembly to secure approval of this vital funding this spring.”

Education Law Center: “A child’s time in school is a precious resource that we cannot afford to waste. We urge the General Assembly to take the baton from the governor, shorten the timeline for closing the adequacy gap, increase the basic education and special education line items, enact the cyber charter reform, and commit to a plan to bring our state into compliance. The Constitution requires it.”

Pre-K for PA: “Gov. Shapiro's 2025-26 Executive Budget proposal includes an additional $15 million to help stabilize early learning providers by boosting per child rates to help combat inflationary pressures and staffing shortages cause by low wages. #PABudget #iamprek”

PSBA CEO Nathan Mains: “The governor’s proposed budget demonstrates his commitment to public education, and we are hopeful that, as budget negotiations progress, all sides will be able to come together and make further advancements in public education despite the difficult revenue projections facing the state.”

Better PA Executive Director Angela Valvano: “@GovernorShapiro said it! The House passed a minimum wage bill last year. The Senate did NOTHING. It's time for the Republican majority Senate to work with their counterparts across the aisle and across the building. #PABudget25”

Signe Espinoza, Planned Parenthood PA Advocates Executive Director: “In these tumultuous and hostile times for sexual and reproductive health care patients, Pennsylvania’s support for and investment in essential and time-sensitive health care will be more important than ever. Everyone deserves access to the full spectrum of sexual and reproductive care and our state has the opportunity to be an example for others in what can be accomplished at the local level, when our rights have been undermined federally. This budget makes major investments in access to health care, particularly in underserved communities. It addresses our maternal mortality crisis and the challenges many mothers face in receiving essential care.”

Kathryn Ott Lovell, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Visitors Center Corp: “It’s absolutely outstanding, and it gives me great hope. That’s a big number and a big commitment that he’s making, and it’s really exciting. The administration understands the importance of this opportunity for the Commonwealth and our cities, and the impact it can have on communities and residents. This is never just about 2026. It’s about ‘how do we use this event and this milestone to propel our city and Commonwealth forward?’”

Penn State University President Neeli Bendapudi: “Penn State has been proactive in our support of this new, additional funding model and has already made strides toward some of the proposed potential metrics through our annual accountability report. Success in similar models throughout the country has come when universities and their states work together on shared goals that support positive student outcomes and workforce and economic development.”

University of Pittsburgh: "We’re grateful for Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed investments in higher education. The University of Pittsburgh plays a critical role in workforce development, research, innovation and economic development. We look forward to working with the Governor and the General Assembly to deliver a higher education plan that maximizes impact and ensures long-term success for our students and communities across the commonwealth."

Cynthia Shapira, Chair of the PASSHE Board of Governor: “We are most appreciative of Gov. Shapiro’s strong support of PASSHE and for proposing to invest in our students. The state system has kept tuition frozen since 2018 thanks to recent funding increases, and the governor’s proposal would help us to freeze tuition again for next fall.”

Temple University President John Fry: “This model has been successful in other states, and we know it can have a similarly positive impact here in Pennsylvania. As the Council moves toward finalizing recommendations for the model ahead of the April 30 deadline, we will continue to advocate on behalf of Temple and work to ensure that each institution’s distinct mission is considered within the performance-based funding framework, which will support the Commonwealth’s strategic priorities for economic and workforce development.”

Association of Pennsylvania State College & University Faculties: "Once again Governor Shapiro has demonstrated leadership and vision by recommending an increase to the State System of Higher Education. His commitment to Pennsylvania's students and families is clear - he wants our universities to fulfill their mission of providing high-quality, affordable education. Our universities are the engines that have propelled thousands upon thousands into the middle class and beyond. We are grateful to Governor Shapiro, just as we are to both houses of the General Assembly for their past and ongoing support. That support has allowed our universities to not raise tuition for a record seven years. We look forward to whatever we can do to make sure this proposal is included in the state budget."

Adam Garder, CeasefirePA Executive Director: “Every investment the state makes in a thriving Pennsylvania is meaningless if Pennsylvanians aren’t alive, and that's why this budget starts with a strong investment in evidence-based violence prevention programs. Governor Shapiro’s proposed budget invests in our lives and builds on the success of the community violence intervention program he has championed for years. This is a budget we can be proud of and hopeful for; it will get funding to under-resourced and marginalized communities who suffer the most from preventable firearm violence. Making our communities safer isn’t political or partisan, and it’s more important than ever that we have strong advocates, policy, and funding streams at the state level. Gun violence rears its ugly head in every community, rural, urban or suburban, and it will take all of us to solve it. Governor Shapiro has been committed to that mission since taking office and we are happy to see him building on that priority with today’s budget proposal.”

ResponsiblePA spokesperson Brit Crampsie: “Governor Shapiro’s budget proposal includes robust investments in our communities funded by, among other things, a responsible, recurring revenue stream from an adult-use cannabis market. His vision for legalization in the state makes us competitive once again with neighboring states. We deserve an adult use cannabis market, just like our border states of Ohio, New Jersey, Maryland, and New York. We deserve the jobs it supports and the revenue it generates. To go another year under prohibitionist policy serves no one and dwindles the state’s resources. Feb 5th’s proposal from the Governor demonstrates thoughtful leadership, and bold policy that the people of this state want and deserve.”

Michael Smith, PennVet Senior Director of Commonwealth Relations: “At a time when avian flu is threatening poultry, waterfowl, wildlife, dairy cows and humans nationally and here in Pennsylvania, the need for veterinarians and their services is abundantly clear. We welcome this new approach by Governor Shapiro to invest in veterinary training and services. Penn Vet has offered these types of programs and services to Pennsylvania for 141 years, and we look forward to working with the General Assembly to preserve our longstanding partnership with the Commonwealth.”

Feeding Pennsylvania: "Feeding Pennsylvania applauds Governor Shapiro’s investment in Pennsylvania’s anti-hunger programs. At a time when hunger is rising—up twenty-five percent in Pennsylvania1—these investments signal a commitment to the more than one and a half million Pennsylvanians facing food insecurity. Higher costs of necessities like food, energy, and housing, supply chain disruptions, and an uncertain future of federal nutrition programs all contribute to increased demand at our food banks."

Stuart I.R. Haniff, MHA, Executive Director of Hunger-Free Pennsylvania: “We are extremely grateful to the governor for this investment and look forward to working with the General Assembly to get these important bipartisan initiatives across the finish line, so we can deliver for our most vulnerable residents. No one should have to make impossible choices. Too many times, we hear anecdotes about seniors having to choose between medicine and meals, or parents going without a decent meal to feed their children. There isn’t a corner of the commonwealth that isn’t affected by food insecurity and hunger, and the need among residents is at an all-time high. We look forward to working with the administration and our elected leaders to ensure every vulnerable Pennsylvanian can put healthy and nutritious food on the table." 

Check out what Pennsylvanians are seeing and reading about Governor Shapiro’s 2025-26 budget proposal all across the Commonwealth:

Spotlight PA: Shapiro renews calls for legal weed, regulated skill games in budget that would send $526M to poorest schools

City & State: Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2025 budget: By the Numbers

Penn Live: ‘Pennsylvania is on the rise,’ Shapiro says in unveiling $51B state budget

Penn Live: Shapiro’s proposed budget calls for historic funding increase to public education

The Philadelphia Inquirer: Gov. Josh Shapiro proposes nearly $65 million for state Semiquincentennial celebrations

The Philadelphia Inquirer: SEPTA would get $161 million in Josh Shapiro’s state budget proposal, staving off service cuts

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Gov. Shapiro says ‘Pennsylvania is on the rise’ as he proposes $51.5 billion budget

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: All of the Pittsburgh mentions in Shapiro's 2025-26 Pennsylvania budget address

Fox 43: Gov. Shapiro touts a state 'on the rise' in budget address

CBS21: Gov. Shapiro delivers budget address

WVIA: In new budget, Shapiro proposes legalizing marijuana, regulating skill and video games and taxing both

Indiana Gazette: Shapiro urges legalized cannabis, regulated skill games, and raising the minimum wage

New Castle News: Shapiro proposes $51.5B budget, 7 percent increase in spending

WPSU: Gov. Shapiro proposes $60 million toward performance-based funding for state-related universities

Lancaster Online: Gov. Shapiro's $51.4B budget pitch includes boost to education, legalizing marijuana

Lancaster Farming: Shapiro Seeks Big Increase for Ag Innovation Fund in State Budget