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HB 2382

An Act providing for temporary budget authority in the absence of an enacted general appropriation act.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Kerry Benninghoff and 18 co-sponsors

HB 2382 would allow temporary, limited state funding to keep core operations running when the general appropriation act isn’t enacted, with caps and oversight.

Referred to Appropriations
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 2382

Summary of HB 2382 (Session 2025-2026) – Pennsylvania

Overview

HB 2382 is a Pennsylvania bill titled “An Act providing for temporary budget authority in the absence of an enacted general appropriation act.” The measure seeks to address funding continuity when a general appropriation act (the annual state budget) has not been enacted, by authorizing temporary budget authority to maintain state operations and meet obligations.

  • Status: Referred to Appropriations (as of 2026-04-14)
  • Sponsors: Liz Hanbidge; Andrew Kuzma; Rob Kauffman; Kerry Benninghoff; Jill Cooper; Brian Rasel; Chad Reichard; Tina Pickett; Brian Smith; Brenda Pugh; Kristin Marcell (co-sponsors)

Purpose and Intent

  • The primary aim is to prevent disruption of state services and obligations by enabling a temporary funding mechanism if the general appropriation act is not enacted by the start of a fiscal period or during budget impasses.
  • It provides a framework to authorize continued government operations in the absence of a full annual budget, reducing potential service gaps for residents and ensuring essential functions continue.

Key Provisions (High-Level)

Note: The exact text of the bill is not provided here, but the bill’s title indicates the core thrust:

  • Temporary Budget Authority: Establishes a mechanism that allows the Commonwealth to spend at a constrained, authorized level when the regular appropriation act has not been enacted.
  • Limitations and Controls: Likely includes ceilings on expenditures, categories of authorized spending, and processes to adjust or revoke authority as needed.
  • Preservation of Obligations: Aims to honor legally bound obligations and prior-year commitments while operating under temporary authority.
  • Oversight and Reporting: Potential requirements for reporting to the General Assembly and the public on expenditures and the status of the budget.
  • Duration and Transition: Defines the period during which temporary authority remains in effect and the process to transition back to normal appropriations once the enacted budget is signed into law.

Who/What Would Be Affected

  • State Agencies and Programs: Would operate under temporary funding rules if the general appropriation act is not enacted, affecting budgeting, procurement, and service delivery.
  • State Obligations: Ongoing contractual and statutory obligations would be subject to the temporary funding parameters.
  • Taxpayers and Residents: Indirectly affected through continued government services and potential impacts on service levels, timing of program funding, and tax-derived revenues.
  • Legislative Oversight: The General Assembly would oversee and potentially modify or revoke temporary authority as part of the ongoing budget process.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Referral: The bill has been referred to the Appropriations Committee, signaling initial steps toward potential consideration and vote.
  • Budget Timeline Context: The bill is designed to intervene specifically in scenarios where the enacted general appropriation act is delayed or incomplete, typically around budget season or during impasses.
  • Effective Date: The bill would specify when temporary authority begins (likely upon enactment or upon a defined trigger such as failure to enact the budget by a deadline) and how long it lasts.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • Stability During Impasses: Could provide continuity of government services and reduce operational disruptions.
  • Fiscal Control: The framework would need robust controls to prevent over-expenditure and to ensure transparency.
  • Policy Trade-offs: Some stakeholders may weigh the benefits of continuity against concerns about checks and balances during a partial budget period.

If you’d like, I can tailor this further with any available text from the bill, such as specific spending caps, durations, or reporting requirements, to provide a more detailed line-by-line summary.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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