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Capitol Report
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#Listrak\DateStampLong#
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The latest news from the State Capitol
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Please do not reply directly to this email, as it returns to an unmanned account.
You are welcome to contact me through this link.
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Upcoming Coffee and Conversation
Next week, on Thursday, Feb. 19, from 8:30 through 10 a.m. my office at the Reading Regional Airport will be hosting a Coffee and Conversation. For more information about the event and to RSVP, please call my office at 610-378-4407. |
Governor’s Proposed $53.26 Billion Budget
The 2026-27 state budget process got underway last week when Gov. Josh Shapiro delivered his budget address before a joint session of the General Assembly on Tuesday.
The governor’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year totals $53.26 billion. That is an increase of $2.72 billion, or 5.4%, over last year. The problem is that projected revenue falls short by $6.46 billion. To close that gap, the plan would take $4.58 billion from the Rainy Day Fund, cutting our emergency savings by about 60%. It also counts on $1.88 billion in new revenue from ideas like legalizing marijuana, taxing skill games and raising the minimum wage.
This is concerning. Not only would the proposal further deplete our emergency funds, it budgets with money that does not exist and will not exist unless the General Assembly and governor agree on three issues where there is currently little agreement. This is not responsible budgeting. It is spending money we do not have and hoping the numbers work out later.
House Republicans have warned that this kind of approach will lead to tax increases, and based on these numbers, those increases could come as early as 2027. Families and businesses in rural Pennsylvania cannot afford that.
Fiscal responsibility is not just a talking point. It is the foundation of a strong Commonwealth, and it is time to start living within our means.
The budget proposed by the governor is his ideal plan to begin negotiations with the General Assembly and is not the final enacted budget. In the coming weeks, the House and Senate Appropriations committees will each conduct hearings taking a closer look at the details of the plan. The House hearings get underway on Monday, Feb. 23, with the Judiciary and Department of Corrections.
Additional information about the governor’s proposal is available at PABudget.com. |
Think Spring! Trout Stocking Schedule Available
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) announced its 2026 trout stocking schedule is now available online and on the FishBoatPA mobile app.
The PFBC will stock approximately 3.2 million adult trout in 684 streams and 130 lakes open to public angling. Stocking is set to begin the week of Feb. 16 in advance of the statewide Mentored Youth Trout Day on Saturday, March 28, and the statewide opening day of trout season on Saturday, April 4.
The 2026 adult trout stocking schedule is searchable by county; lists the waterways in alphabetical order; and indicates stocking dates, meeting locations for volunteers and the species of trout that will be stocked at each location.
Click here for additional details about stocking and visit www.fishandboat.com for information about fishing licenses and permits.
You can also visit my office to pick up a hardcopy of the stocking lists. There are only a limited number available, so grab one soon! |
Community Conservation Partnerships Program Now Accepting Grant Applications
Communities across Pennsylvania can now apply for state grants to fund parks, recreation and conservation projects, as the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) opens its latest round of Community Conservation Partnerships Program funding. Applications are open now through April 30 at 4 p.m.
Eligible applicants include county and municipal governments, municipal agencies and nonprofit organizations. The grants fund projects such as park and recreation projects, conservation planning, trail planning, land and river conservation, community and streamside tree planting, and more.
Grant applications are only accepted through DCNR’s Grants Customer Service Portal.
Before starting an application, potential applicants should contact a regional advisor who serves the county where their project will be located. Contact information is available on the Regional Staff Assignment map (PDF).
Learn more here. |
Students Invited to Participate in Lyme Disease Awareness Campaign
Pennsylvania students in first through sixth grades are invited to enter the 2026 Lyme Art Contest by creating a short video or poster focusing on the theme: “Protect. Check. Remove.”
The annual contest helps students, Scout troops and community youth programs learn how to prevent Lyme disease by educating them about ticks, including where they live, how to prevent bites and how to remove ticks that do bite.
Pennsylvania has one of the highest annual counts of Lyme disease cases in the nation, which further emphasizes the importance of teaching children about tick awareness and prevention measures.
The deadline for entries is Friday, March 13. Click here for details. |
Let's Get Connected
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Our District
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Web Site
rep .com
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| Office Locations |
| District Office: Reading Regional Airport - Main Terminal, 2501 Bernville Road, Box 4, Reading, PA, 19605 | Phone: (610) 378-4407, FAX: (610) 378-4412 | Open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
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| Capitol Office: 432 Irvis Office Building, Harrisburg, Pa 17020-2005 | PO Box 202005 | Phone: 717-772-9940 |
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