Senator Tartaglione’s Statement on Passage of the 2025–26 Pennsylvania Budget

Harrisburg, PA - November 12, 2025 - Senator Christine M. Tartaglione (D, Philadelphia) released the following statement after final passage of the 2025-26 Pennsylvania state budget:

"While this budget was long overdue, I'm proud that we have delivered a responsible and balanced plan that truly reflects the needs and priorities of working Pennsylvanians. This budget supports affordability, job growth, public safety, and education, without raising taxes, and even provides tax relief for nearly one million residents.

We've worked tirelessly to craft a budget that invests in people, not politics. It funds our public schools fairly and constitutionally, strengthens childcare and direct care workforces, and expands food access and human services for families feeling the strain of rising costs and federal uncertainty.

That includes a desperately needed paycheck of at least $450 to childcare workers who are critical to supporting the children and families I represent and an additional $21M in state funding that will go directly into the pockets of participant-directed homecare workers. This is their first meaningful raise in years and cannot be watered down to add to the profits of businesses. Literally until the day of signing, in Philadelphia and in Harrisburg, I fought alongside union workers and my Democratic colleagues to make this happen and I'm ecstatic that the Governor is following through on our commitment to supporting children, parents, patients, and workers in my district and Pennsylvania.

Importantly, we've also included language to increase student enrollment at The Bridgeway School, Pennsylvania's only recovery high school, from 20 to 35 students, along with a $234,000 increase in funding. As someone who has spent much of my career fighting for recovery resources and addiction support services, this is deeply personal to me. Every young person who chooses recovery deserves a chance at education, dignity, and a second chance, and I believe that Bridgeway can act as a model for more recovery high schools throughout the state. This funding will expand access to that opportunity and help more families rebuild their futures.

This year's budget also creates a new Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit to provide direct relief to families who are struggling to make ends meet. My district ranks number one in eligible constituents for this new credit. That means real money back in the pockets of hardworking families right here in the 2^nd district.

But while this budget is a step forward, there is more work to do. We know the federal government will continue to undermine progress made in Harrisburg and too many Pennsylvanians are working full-time and still living in poverty. Until we raise the minimum wage, a fight I have led for too many years, our Commonwealth will continue to fall short of its moral responsibility to working people.

This budget is progress. It delivers meaningful relief and targeted investments that will make a difference in people's lives, but we can and must continue to do better to ensure every Pennsylvanian has the opportunity to live, work, and thrive with dignity."

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