Pa. Gov. Shapiro signs $50.85B budget with education, infrastructure investments

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WBNG)— Gov. Josh Shapiro has signed Pennsylvania’s new $50.85 billion budget, calling it a bipartisan plan that makes major investments in schools, infrastructure, economic development and public safety.

Education and workforce

The budget increases education funding by more than $678 million, supporting basic and special education as well as career and technical training programs to strengthen the workforce.

$11.85 billion will be invested in K-12 subsidies for Pennsylvania students, including a $565 million increase through the bipartisan adequacy and tax equity formula, a$58 million increase for Basic Education Funding, and a $55 million increase for Special Education Funding.

The Shapiro administration will invest an additional $10 million for career and technical education, $5 million for the Child Care Staff Retention and Recruitment Program and an additional $10 million for the Student Teacher Stipend Program.

$100 million will also be allocated to annual mental health and school safety funding.

Roads and infrastructure

The plan commits $775 million over the next two years to repair state-owned roads, with $500 million going toward paving and construction projects in the current fiscal year.

Economic development

The budget creates the $125 million Innovate in PA 2.0 program to support startups, life sciences research and economic innovation across the commonwealth.

The budget accounts for a total of $193 million in annual workforce development funding, including $10 million for career and technical education, $5 million for the Child Care Staff Retention and Recruitment Program and an additional $10 million for the Student Teacher Stipend Program.

Public safety and social services

The plan funds four additional State Police cadet classes while expanding support for child welfare services, crisis centers and mental health resources.

$10 million in state funding will be allocated to the 988 hotline, dedicated to helping those experiencing a mental health crisis.

$5 million will be allocated to mental health walk-in centers to provide resources for those who need them outside of regular business hours.

Agriculture and Food Access

$10 million has been set aside to create grants to support farmers affected by this spring’s devastating freeze.

$5 million will go toward the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Fund to expand education and prevent the spread of bird flu.

$13.8 million will fund the Pennsylvania Farm Bill to support business planning, infrastructure and workforce development.

$7 million in funding will support updates to Pennsylvania’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and upgrade SNAP EBT cards from magnetic stripes to chip-enabled cards, protecting SNAP recipients against fraud and theft.

Learn more about the 2026-2027 Pennsylvania State Budget here.