Overview
- Republican senators approved the plan 27-23 along party lines, sending it to a Democratic-led House that has dismissed it as a nonstarter.
- The proposal keeps spending essentially flat with roughly a $300 million increase directed to debt service and school employee pensions, and it trims legislative operations by about 5%.
- House Democrats earlier advanced a $50.25 billion plan to boost K–12 funding and cover rising Medicaid costs, which Senate Republicans rejected.
- Gov. Josh Shapiro labeled the Senate bill "unserious" and GOP leaders urged the House to return for "one day and one vote" to move it to the governor’s desk.
- Schools, counties and service providers report loans, layoffs and delayed hires as they bridge billions in withheld state payments, while Republicans warn against tapping reserves given softer revenue projections.