Ryncavage Comments on Passage of 2026-27 Budget
July 12, 2026
HARRISRUG - Rep. Alec Ryncavage (R-Luzerne) today issued the following statement after voting in favor of the 2026-27 General Appropriations bill:
“After months of negotiations, and this time in fewer than 135 days, Pennsylvania has a state budget. Gov. Shapiro’s original $53.3 billion budget proposal was negotiated down to $50.8 billion, limiting spending growth to approximately $1.8 billion, or 3.7%, over the current budget.
“One of the biggest fiscal victories is that this budget preserves Pennsylvania’s Rainy Day Fund. The governor’s original proposal relied on nearly $4.6 billion from our emergency savings account, but the final agreement leaves those reserves untouched.
“Like last year’s agreement, the budget is balanced through stronger-than-expected revenue growth and one-time adjustments, rather than draining our savings.
“Several issues that have been central to recent budget negotiations, including recreational marijuana, skill games and the minimum wage, were ultimately not addressed in this year’s budget agreement.
“Gov. Shapiro secured his requested increase in education funding, while House and Senate Republicans secured a budget that preserves the Rainy Day Fund, avoids broad-based tax increases, protects charter schools and educational choice, and imposes no new taxes or mandates on businesses.”
The budget agreement also includes, just to name a few:
| • | A historic cost-of-living adjustment for Pre-Act 9 retired state employees and retired municipal police officers and firefighters. | |
| • | A new $775 million investment in rural roads and bridges, with nearly $50 million expected for PennDOT District 4, including Luzerne County. | |
| • | Chip-enabled SNAP cards to better protect recipients from fraud and theft. | |
| • | Reporting requirements for data center water and electricity usage. | |
| • | Stronger bonding and decommissioning standards for solar projects. |
“Rather than fully addressing Medicaid spending, this budget relies on a ‘Medicaid roll,’ delaying payments to providers while reimbursing the interest they incur on the line of credit needed to operate. It closes this year’s budget but shifts costs into the future.
“I was also disappointed that Gov. Shapiro chose not to opt Pennsylvania into the new federal scholarship tax credit program, missing an opportunity to expand educational opportunities for families while using federal incentives rather than additional state tax dollars.
“This budget reflects where Pennsylvania is today, not where I believe we should ultimately be. We protected taxpayers from the worst outcomes in this negotiation, but there is still more work to do to put our Commonwealth on a truly sustainable fiscal path.”
The 2026–27 state budget passed the House 167-35 and the Senate 44-6. The budget is pending the governor’s signature to become law.
Representative Alec Ryncavage
119th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Melissa Fox
717.260.6522
mefox@pahousegop.com
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