Rabb applauds affordability, education initiatives in 2026-27 state budget
Rep. Christopher M. Rabb July 15, 2026 | 12:34 PM
HARRISBURG, July 15 – Today, state Rep. Chris Rabb applauds the passage of the 2026-27 Pennsylvania state budget, including investments in affordability and stronger schools for all students.
The 2026-27 budget prioritizes everyday Pennsylvanians through initiatives like the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit, addressing rising energy costs, supporting reliable infrastructure and protecting consumers. The budget also requires large data centers to publicly report their energy and water usage, helping communities plan for future infrastructure needs.
“Through all our discussions in Harrisburg, I’m glad affordability stayed top of mind, particularly when it comes to data center transparency,” Rabb said. “We need to hold these projects accountable for the environmental impact they create, and I’m pleased my colleagues felt similarly.”
The budget also invests in education, including an increase of $157 million for the School District of Philadelphia, as well as a $565 million increase to help rectify historic funding discrepancies statewide.
“Along with my colleagues in the House, I prioritized education funding in this budget because our families depend on it,” Rabb said. “Our schools are not just places of learning, but places to find oneself and become the great leaders of tomorrow. I thank my friends in the House for continuing to stand up for our students.”
Other funding increases and new investments in the budget include:
- $24.2 million for rape crisis response, which nearly doubles funding for that program.
- A 20% increase for the childcare recruitment and retention program.
- A 9.1% increase for early intervention services for children with developmental delays.
- Increased oversight and transparency requirements for data centers.
- $6 million for avian flu surveillance and response.