The state House and Senate have finished their respective Appropriations Committee hearings with agency officials following Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget address touting his proposal for the 2025-26 fiscal year. The appropriations hearings marked the second phase of the annual budget process with negotiations continuing throughout the spring as legislators and the administration work towards a budget agreement by the state’s July 1 constitutional deadline. Both chambers are scheduled to return to voting session with the House set to reconvene on Monday, March 17 and the Senate on Monday, March 24.