Pennsylvania Budget

Only three months after he signed the current state budget, Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed a new one Tuesday for the fiscal year that starts July 1. Shapiro called for some new programs and renewed a push for past proposals that failed to get through the state General Assembly.

In his fourth annual budget address, Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed a $1 billion fund to pay for building more housing and other infrastructure, regulating rental housing and $665 million more in funding for public schools.

Follow along each day at WVIA.org as we publish '2025 Year in Review,' a week-long series recounting the top stories of the past year through New Year's Day. Today, check out the top news stories from some of the rural communities in our region.

Just one month after Congress moved to strengthen legislation around the hemp industry, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to support research into medical marijuana for chronic pain and other conditions.

Michael Mullins died from ALS in 2022. Motivated by the loss of his father, state Rep. Kyle Mullins helped secure $5 million in the state budget to study diseases like ALS, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

December 1, 2025– Toyota of Scranton will host a blood drive tomorrow in honor of Giving Tuesday, to raise money and fortify blood donations in support of two employees’ family members. The state budget has a new fund for neurodegenerative disease research, and a Lackawanna County lawmaker helped lead the charge. And, a Luzerne County nonprofit brings together the region’s older adults and disadvantaged with soup.

State Rep. Kyle Mullins’ father died from ALS in 2022. That loss motivated him to fight for neurodegenerative disease research through legislative action. He helped secure $5 million in the state budget for research on neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

The record-breaking federal government shutdown ended Wednesday, restoring Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits to more than 42 million Americans who rely on the food assistance program, including more than 2 million people in Pennsylvania.

Lawmakers in Harrisburg finally passed a state budget on Wednesday after an impasse that lasted more than four months.

The overdue state budget provides significant relief for Pennsylvania school districts — some of which feared they’d soon close their doors without state money.