Nov. 12, 2025
HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania House Republican Leader Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Fulton) commented on the passage of the FY 2025-26 state budget with the following statement:
“The process that led to the passage of this year’s budget was not perfect, but the result is significant progress for the people of Pennsylvania and this Commonwealth’s future well-being.
“From the beginning of this session, House Republicans have emphasized that no budget will truly balance unless we prioritize our economic growth in ways that capitalize on what we have, prepare our students for the future and make necessary government reforms particularly relating to benefit integrity.
“I am proud to say this budget has major accomplishments in all these areas.
“By getting out of RGGI and making significant strides in permitting reform, Pennsylvania is poised to take advantage of the economic opportunity under our feet by jumpstarting our energy industry, driving investment from tech companies and removing government as an impediment to growth while holding state bureaucrats accountable.
“The enhancement to the supplemental scholarship for students attending economically disadvantaged schools is another step forward in allowing more students to achieve a quality education regardless of their ZIP code, empowering students and parents in educational outcomes, and ensuring the generation of tomorrow is prepared with a solid foundation today. This budget also prioritizes essential learning skills, such as reading, by requiring structured literacy in Pennsylvania’s public schools so we can ensure every student in Pennsylvania has the necessary elements to achieve success in future learning endeavors.
“This budget also delivers on real benefit integrity by ensuring taxpayer benefits are going to those who truly need them and creating a benefit system that is more secure for long-term viability and availability for the most vulnerable.
“I am also proud we are returning taxpayer dollars back to working Pennsylvanians in a structured tax credit program that secures a reinvestment of their money into Pennsylvania communities while guaranteeing government is not sitting on unutilized funds better spent by hardworking Pennsylvanians.
“Overall, this is not just a budget for this fiscal year. This budget contains transformative policy that is really about the future of this Commonwealth. I am proud to support this budget and look forward to seeing the fruits of our hard work in the coming success of Pennsylvania, its children and its communities.”
Republican Leader Jesse Topper
78th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives