Overview

• House Democrats amended and passed the Senate’s budget bill at $50.3 billion on a 105–98 vote, with three Republicans in support, adding sizable increases for public education and Medicaid.
• The Republican‑led Senate previously approved a $47.6 billion plan on Aug. 12 that holds spending at last year’s level, underscoring the gap between the chambers.
• Gov. Josh Shapiro urged the Senate to adopt the House plan, calling it a compromise and criticizing Senate leaders for failing to advance a final budget.
• Service disruptions are mounting, including layoffs at Philadelphia’s only rape‑crisis center, school districts taking short‑term loans, and counties freezing spending or cutting staff.
• As talks continue in Harrisburg, the House near‑unanimously passed SB 246 to require parent notification if a weapon is brought to a school and held a bipartisan hearing on the Keystone Fresh Act to boost local farm‑to‑school purchasing.