Senator Tracy Pennycuick (R-24) responded to Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposed budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, expressing both support and concern regarding its provisions.
Pennycuick, who chairs the Senate Communications and Technology Committee, said she welcomed the governor’s endorsement of her artificial intelligence legislation. The proposal aims to require age verification and parental consent for minors using chatbots, as well as identification measures when minors mention self-harm or violence, with such concerns being directed to authorities. “As Chair of the Senate Communications and Technology Committee, I was pleased to hear Governor Shapiro support my artificial intelligence legislation to ensure age verification and parental consent when using chatbots and to require identification when minors reference self-harm or violence toward others and immediately route those concerns to appropriate authorities,” Pennycuick stated.
She also noted agreement with the governor on an amendment that would allow local communities to decide whether they want a data center in their area. “I was also glad the Governor agrees with my amendment to ensure local control allowing communities to decide whether they want a data center in their community,” she said.
Pennycuick acknowledged increased funding for education, including career and technical schools. “In addition, I applaud efforts to increase resources for education, including funding for career and technical schools,” she added.
However, Pennycuick criticized the scale of spending in Shapiro’s $53.3 billion budget plan. She raised concerns about reliance on revenues not previously approved by lawmakers and the withdrawal of $4.6 billion from emergency reserves in the Rainy-Day Fund. “Unfortunately, Governor Shapiro’s $53.3 billion budget proposal spends too much, counting on revenues that have not been approved in prior budgets, and steers the state ever closer to a massive tax increase. Governor Shapiro’s budget includes $2.7 billion in new spending and takes $4.6 billion out of the state’s emergency reserves in the Rainy-Day Fund,” Pennycuick said.
Pennycuick represents parts of Berks and Montgomery counties in Pennsylvania’s 24th District official website. Her legislative focus includes job growth initiatives, support for veterans and law enforcement, improvements in education, technology advancement, digital security measures, and fiscal responsibility official website. Before her election to the Senate in 2022 after serving in the General Assembly official website, Pennycuick served 26 years in the U.S. Army before retiring as a lieutenant colonel official website.