Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus
02/05/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/05/2026 08:51
Pugh Legislation Addresses Time Parameters for Passing State Budget
Feb. 05, 2026
HARRISBURG - To address the recent 135-day state budget impasse, Rep. Brenda Pugh (R-Luzerne) has introduced bipartisan legislation, House Bill 2194, that would require the General Assembly to remain in session if a spending plan is not enacted by July 31 of each year.
"Delayed budget agreements have become an annual feature in Pennsylvania, with 13 of the past 20 budgets running past the June 30 deadline. The potential damage caused is, quite frankly, irresponsible," Pugh said. "Many Pennsylvania institutions and organizations - and the people they serve - suffer the longer a deal is not reached, including nonprofits, social services, public schools and other education programs, health departments, and so on."
Counties, even those with cash reserves, strongly feel the negative effects of a budget impasse, with essential programs running the risk of incurring debt and taxpayers taking on additional financial burdens, Pugh noted.
Pugh's proposal seeks to amend the Pennsylvania Constitution and would require the General Assembly to be in session each weekday, other than state holidays, whenever a General Appropriation bill has not been enacted by July 31. This would allow for continuous, uninterrupted collaboration between House and Senate members, and the governor. With unimpeded communication and debate, the General Assembly would have the opportunity to work toward an agreement with minimal delay.
"As lawmakers, we are responsible for addressing the needs of our constituents and supporting the health of the Commonwealth. A timely and well-formulated General Appropriation bill is an essential part of meeting these obligations. By allowing Pennsylvanians to vote to amend our Constitution to incentivize timely budget agreements, we can better represent the constituents we were elected to serve and reassure the public that we are committed to their success," Pugh added.
House Bill 2194 has been assigned to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration.
Representative Brenda Pugh
120th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Melissa Fox
717.260.6522
[email protected]
"Delayed budget agreements have become an annual feature in Pennsylvania, with 13 of the past 20 budgets running past the June 30 deadline. The potential damage caused is, quite frankly, irresponsible," Pugh said. "Many Pennsylvania institutions and organizations - and the people they serve - suffer the longer a deal is not reached, including nonprofits, social services, public schools and other education programs, health departments, and so on."
Counties, even those with cash reserves, strongly feel the negative effects of a budget impasse, with essential programs running the risk of incurring debt and taxpayers taking on additional financial burdens, Pugh noted.
Pugh's proposal seeks to amend the Pennsylvania Constitution and would require the General Assembly to be in session each weekday, other than state holidays, whenever a General Appropriation bill has not been enacted by July 31. This would allow for continuous, uninterrupted collaboration between House and Senate members, and the governor. With unimpeded communication and debate, the General Assembly would have the opportunity to work toward an agreement with minimal delay.
"As lawmakers, we are responsible for addressing the needs of our constituents and supporting the health of the Commonwealth. A timely and well-formulated General Appropriation bill is an essential part of meeting these obligations. By allowing Pennsylvanians to vote to amend our Constitution to incentivize timely budget agreements, we can better represent the constituents we were elected to serve and reassure the public that we are committed to their success," Pugh added.
House Bill 2194 has been assigned to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration.
Representative Brenda Pugh
120th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Melissa Fox
717.260.6522
[email protected]
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Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus published this content on February 05, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on February 05, 2026 at 14:51 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]