State budget prioritizes education, major investment in Dormont and more!

Rep. Jen Mazzocco July 15, 2026

After months of deliberation, the legislature has passed the 2026-27 Pennsylvania budget! There are a lot of wins in this agreement, but notably, it marks the 4th consecutive year of significantly increased investment in our Commonwealth’s public schools. I’m proud to share over $3 million in increased funding went to school districts in our communities to make sure that students have access to the high quality instruction, safe and modern learning environments, and proper staffing that ensure every kid can succed.

This budget allocates a $50 million statewide increase in basic education and special education funding, $121 million in school safety and mental health support grants, increases in the Student Teacher Stipend program and support for Career and Technical Education, and increases funding to our state and state-related higher education institutions. I’m proud that this budget helps students across the Commonwealth who need it most!

The budget also hit several of my priorities within its investments and initiatives, such as:

A continued investment in the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit, which puts $200 million back in the pockets of nearly 950,000 working families.
A requirement that data centers with a peak capacity demand of more than 10 megawatts must report energy and water usage to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
Support for key healthcare programs, including a $615.2 million increase for the Medical Assistance managed care program and $5.6 million increase for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
A 31% increase for Grow PA scholarships, which offer grants to in-state students who attend college in Pennsylvania, pursue a degree in a high-demand industry and agree to live and work in that industry in Pennsylvania after graduation.
More than $62 million for the Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) program, which drives dollars out to community-based organizations to reduce gun violence.
Cost of living adjustment (COLA) increases for retired police officers, firefighters, and educators.

Now that the budget is done, I will be keeping busy in the district, so please reach out with any questions about the budget or any services you need help with!

Major investment in Dormont infrastructure!

Today, the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (Pennvest) announced $8.9 million in funding to Pennsylvania American Water to replace lead water service lines in Dormont Borough. This is a major investment in local infrastructure, making sure Dormont’s water system is safer and more reliable, and making sure residents avoid the costs that come with aging structures. A huge thank you to Pennvest for its commitment to the Dormont community.

Urban Ag Week

On Tuesday, I joined Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding, Secretary of Labor and Industry Nancy Walker, and Reps. Jessica Benham and Emily Kinkead for a farm tour in honor of Urban Ag Week! I visited Soil Sisters in Allen and Hilltop Urban Farm, with both achieving success in transforming unusable land into working farms. I congratulate both farms for their contributions feeding our neighbors and helping in the fight against food insecurity, and I’m glad that we continued to support urban agriculture in this year’s state budget!

Local face heads Advisory Commission on People with Disabilities

I want to send my congratulations to Dr. Josie Badger, Executive Director of Gov. Shapiro’s new Advisory Commission on People with Disabilities! Josie is a longtime friend and partner to our district office, including lending her valuable presence to our annual Disability & Mental Health Summit. I look forward to working with Josie and all the newly appointed commissioners to ensure that people with disabilities are heard and respected.

Mark Your Calendar

?? Walk & Talks

Look for more details on this new series, offering weekly, 30-minute Walk and Talk meetings with constituents.

?? Senior Fair

Friday, September 25 at the Salvation Army on McNeilly Road.

? Property Tax/Rent Rebate Deadline

You now have until December 31 to file 2025 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Applications.

Stay tuned for more updates, and as always, our office is here to help. You can reach us by phone at 412-343-3870 or visit us at 650 Washington Road, Suite 102, in Mt. Lebanon.