Supreme Court urges 7% funding boost, seeks reauthorization of Act 49 and more cybersecurity money

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Friday asked the House Appropriations Committee for a 7% increase in general‑fund support for the unified judicial system, the reauthorization of Act 49 and statutory changes to the Judicial Computer System Augmentation account to address chronic funding shortfalls for court technology and services.

Justice Christine Donahue delivered opening testimony on behalf of the judiciary, saying the governor’s budget proposal totals about $509 million for the judicial branch — roughly a $30 million increase from the prior year — and urging the committee to reauthorize Act 49, which the judiciary said expires July 31. “Adequate funding for Pennsylvania’s unified judicial system is essential to our constitutional democracy,” Donahue said.

Why it matters: The court told lawmakers that an outsized share of the judiciary’s budget is personnel (about 89%), that 75% of state judicial dollars support county‑level courts and that a portion of court operations now depends on fee revenue that has been unpredictable. Justices and administrators warned that reliance on fee‑based funding leaves statewide case management and other core systems vulnerable to year‑to‑year swings.

Key budget requests and explanations

- General fund increase: The judiciary asked for roughly $30.5 million (about 7%) to keep pace with personnel costs and recent increases in operating needs. Justices said the request assumes continuation of fee streams that currently augment the general fund.

- Act 49 reauthorization: Witnesses said some courtroom operations and operating revenue now rely on a statutory reauthorization known as Act 49 and urged the General Assembly to renew it before it lapses on July 31.

- Judicial Computer System Augmentation/account…