Pennsylvania House advances budget, education and tax bills; several measures sent to governor
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Summary
The House voted to concur in senate amendments and passed a series of bills on Nov. 12, 2025, including the general appropriations bill, an education omnibus, and several measures affecting higher education funding, taxes and senior programs. Bills were signed for presentation to the governor and the chamber adjourned until Nov. 17.
The Pennsylvania House on Nov. 12 voted to advance a package of budget and policy bills, including the general appropriations measure and a multi-topic education law, and sent several enacted bills to the governor.
On the central fiscal measure, the House concurred in senate amendments to Senate Bill 160, the general appropriations bill, by a roll-call vote the clerk recorded as 156 ayes and 47 nays. Floor managers described the package as a compromise that keeps the rainy day fund intact and funds education, workforce and mental-health programs. Representative Struzy, chair of the Appropriations Committee, urged members to support Senate Bill 160, saying the bill contains policies "that will help us grow our economy".
The chamber also completed final action on House Bill 1421, a supplemental funding measure for state-related universities, which passed final passage with 151 yeas and 52 nays and will be presented to the senate. Representative Krupa (Fayette) opposed non-preferred funding for Penn State, arguing the university has prioritized athletics and leadership compensation over branch campuses; she said, "Penn State has abandoned its land grant mission." Supporters argued the funding supports research, medical services and economic activity.
Senate Bill 731 — a measure covering PACE, PACENET and related Social Security COLA provisions — passed on final passage 203–0. The House also concurred in senate amendments to Senate Bill 315, an education omnibus that includes $100 million for school safety and mental-health grants, changes to cyber school oversight, and teacher certification reforms; that concurrence passed 167–36. Representative Schreyer summarized the policy additions and funding in the measure.
House Bill 416, which includes several tax and affordability provisions such as a Working Pennsylvania tax credit and removal of taxation on reparations for Holocaust survivors, drew debate because members said it also cancels the commonwealth's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Representative Kahn described benefits in the bill while Representative Vitale urged opposition, saying RGGI has driven emissions reductions in participating states. The House concurred in the amendments to HB416 (ayes 189, nays 14).
Clerks read extracts indicating that the speaker had signed several bills — including HB416, HB749 and the earlier appropriations-related measures — and those bills were prepared to be sent to the governor. The House adjourned and will reconvene Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, at 12:00 p.m., unless sooner recalled.
Votes at a glance: Motion to proceed to immediate consideration (HB1421, SB731, SB160) — passed (192–11); Concur in amendments to SB160 — passed (156–47); Final passage HB1421 — passed (151–52); Final passage SB731 — passed (203–0); Concur in amendments to SB315 — passed (167–36); Concur in amendments to HB416 — passed (189–14).
The clerk will transmit passed measures to the senate or to the governor as required by the legislature's rules.
