It’s not all white smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel yet, but there are signs pointing to progress in state budget talks, which could end early next week.
The GOP-controlled state Senate adjourned on June 30 until further notice Interim President Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland) schedules committee meetings for Friday afternoon, with a voting session scheduled for Saturday.
The Democratic-majority state House will hold an appropriations hearing Saturday evening, and the full assembly will convene Sunday at noon.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapirospeaking Thursday in Altoona, he said he expected many events to take place at the Capitol this weekend.
“I will be at the Capitol all weekend,” Shapiro said. “We have worked very hard to bring both sides, Republicans and Democrats, together, and I think you will see results very soon that will benefit the good people of Pennsylvania.”
Despite the June 30 statutory deadline, the General Assembly has failed to deliver a budget to the governor’s desk for signature on time for five consecutive years. The budget for 2025-26 was finalized only on November 12.
The last state budget to be completed ahead of schedule was 2021, when Governor Tom Wolf signed on June 30.
