This information is provided to the best of our knowledge as of the date provided. Information is subject to change without notice. While authoritative, it is not guaranteed for accuracy or legalities. If there are questions, please reach out to your district consultant, who may encourage your library to ask a local solicitor/lawyer for further guidance.
State Budget
Governor’s Proposed Budget 2025-26
Governor’s 2025-26 Budget Website
Proposal Highlights
- Education Investments in K-12 schools
- Workforce Developments, Adult Literacy & Training
- Increasing Minimum Wage
- Gov. is calling for $15/hour; all surrounding states have increased above the federal minimum wage. The lowest is West Virginia at $8.75
- New Revenue Sources via Regulating Skill Games & Legalizing Recreational Marijuana
Legislative Responses
- Senate Republicans criticize Governor Shapiro’s budget for excessive spending without solid revenue sources, emphasizing the need for fiscal responsibility.
- House Republicans criticized the governor’s budget proposal, emphasizing unsustainable spending and the need for energy policy reforms to boost Pennsylvania’s economy.
- House & Senate Democrats emphasize allegiance with the Governor’s priorities and call for bipartisan collaboration.
Read our full analysis of the Budget proposal
Notes on the Appropriations Committee Hearings in House & Senate
Trends:
- There is a focus on wanting better outcomes with funding, and being able to prove better outcomes are coming with more money.
- There was a lot of discussion surrounding supporting workers in education, particularly in early childhood education, qualified child care workers, and student teachers.
- There is a lot of interest in workforce development and Career & Technical Education.
- Libraries are critical pieces of both the educational ecosystem and functional communities.
- Many questions about the impacts of the federal level changes to the Dept of Ed were affecting PA.
What You Can Do
- Tell your representatives and senators how you are better able to serve communities with the money you receive and how much an increase in state aid would help your community. What could you do with it? What benefits (outcomes) would your community see? Sell what your materials/services do for people, not just “We offer large print and e-books.”
- Gather data about your library and its community to help navigate the conversations with local, state, and national leaders. Calculate the library’s ROI – for every $1 of library revenue, the library generates $x value in the community. Gather feel-good stories that show user outcomes.
Federal Budget
President’s Proposed Budget FY2026
On May 2, 2025, the President released the full proposed discretionary federal budget. On page 39, it calls for the elimination of all funding for IMLS, the only federal agency dedicated solely to supporting America’s libraries and museums. The proposal states “The Budget includes the elimination of, or the elimination of Federal funding for, the following small agencies—consistent with the President’s efforts to decrease the size of the Federal Government to enhance accountability, reduce waste, and reduce unnecessary governmental entities. Past Trump Administration Budgets have also supported these eliminations. Remaining funds account for costs of orderly shutdowns.
Contact your Congressional Representatives now to express your support for IMLS funding; EveryLibrary and ALA both have email campaigns to help you.
Legislation to Watch
Pennsylvania
- 2025-26 Appropriations BillsImpact on Libraries SB280: Bill Information (Note: The Fiscal Note PDF is the most readable version of the numbers.)SB160: Bill Information Actions – SB280 Actions…
- HB1178: Rural Library Grant ProgramImpact on Libraries This legislation will create a grant program for rural libraries and provide essential funding for maintenance projects, emergency repairs, accessibility improvements, and…
- HB860: Freedom to Read ActImpact on Libraries Directed towards school libraries, this bill serves to protect students’ right to information by specifically prohibiting the removal of items from school…
- SB230: Parental Control of Student Exposure to Sexually Explicit Content in SchoolsImpact on Libraries Though this is directed towards schools, it is another challenge to free speech and expression of ideas. The requirements of this bill…
- HR38: Recognizing National Library WeekImpact on Libraries A positive resolution recognizing April 6-12, 2025 at National Library Week in Pennsylvania. Sponsors: ORTITAY, VENKAT, FREEMAN, JAMES, STENDER, MERSKI, CERRATO, CIRESI,…
Federal
- Federal Executive Order: Continuing the Reduction of the Federal BureaucracyLast updated May 7, 2025 Executive Order Summary President Trump signed this executive order (EO) late on March 14, 2025. The EO purports to be…
- Federal Spending FreezeWhat We Know Late on January 27, the Federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memo directing all federal agencies to pause making…
- E-Rate Legal ChallengeBackground E-Rate is a federal program that provides discounts to eligible K-12 public and private schools and public libraries in order to obtain affordable internet…
- S.317/H.R.801 Charitable ActImpact on Libraries This bill allows individual taxpayers who do not otherwise itemize their tax deductions an above-the-line deduction for charitable contributions, limited to one-third…
- Federal Executive Order 14148Executive Order Summary Executive Order 14148 “Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions” was signed by President Trump on January 20, 2025. Essentially, EO14148…
Find all of our Legislation to Watch Posts
Advocacy Resources
- ALA’s Show Up for Our Libraries Campaign
- Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLA) Advocacy Priorities
- National Council of Nonprofits (NCN): Look here for trends, legislative updates, and education regarding nonprofit operations on the national level.
- Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofits (PANO): Here is where trends and legislation are tracked at the state level; PANO is a member of NCN.
SNOE Legislators
Federal Congress
Representative Glenn Thompson
Federal District 15
Link to site
Representative Mike Kelly
Federal District 16
Link to site
Representative Chris Deluzio
Federal District 17
Link to site
Senator Dave McCormick
Pennsylvania
Link to site
Senator John Fetterman
Pennsylvania
Link to site
Pennsylvania Governor
Governor Josh Shapiro
Contact the Governor
Pennsylvania Congress
Senator Scott E. Hutchinson
Senate District 21
Link to site
Senator Cris Dush
Senate District 25
Link to site
Senator Joe Pittman
Senate District 41
Link to site
Senator Daniel Laughlin
Senate District 49
Link to site
Senator Michele Brooks
Senate District 50
Link to site
Rep. Pat Harkins
District 1
Link to site
Rep. Robert E. Merski
District 2
Link to site
Rep. Ryan A. Bizzarro
District 3
Link to site
Rep. Jacob Banta
District 4
Link to site
Rep. Brad Roae
District 6
Link to site
Rep. Josh Bashline
District 63
Link to site
Rep. R. Lee James
District 64
Link to site
Rep. Kathy L. Rapp
District 65
Link to site
Rep. Brian Smith
District 66
Link to site
Rep. Martin T. Causer
District 67
Link to site
Rep. Mike Armanini
District 75
Link to site
Find Your Library’s Legislator
Remember to search for your library’s entire service area and not just the main address of the library!