HARRISBURG (TNS) — In the thick of negotiations toward a budget in a revenue-hungry environment, a renewed and bipartisan push has been launched to legalize recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania and at the same time generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue.

A 181-page bill that would put legal marijuana sales under a new Cannabis Control Board was introduced by Sen. Dan Laughlin, R-Erie, and Sen. Sharif Street, D-Philadelphia. Its proposed use of a seven-member board to oversee the potential new industry is markedly different then the approach taken in a bill rejected in May by a Senate committee.

That bill gave oversight to the state Liquor Control Board.

Laughlin introduced a bill similar to the new one during the last two-year session. It failed to gain traction.

The budget negotiations are being conducted behind closed doors by the administration of Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, leaders of the Democratic-held House, and leaders of the Republican-held Senate. The budget is 10 days overdue.

Shapiro’s original budget proposal for 2025-26 anticipated $537 million in new revenue from legalization. Hopes for that money dimmed with the rejection of the earlier bill and particularly after Republican Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman of Indiana County indicated legalization would not be a part of this budget cycle.

On Thursday, Pittman said the negotiations are progressing and Republicans remain committed to reducing the state’s structural budget deficit, which has been estimated at $3 billion.

“However, I do not see a prevailing view for legalization of recreational marijuana within our caucus as part of the current budget,” he said.

Laughlin said he believed the new measure, if approved in both chambers and signed into law, could generate about $500 million.

“Now that Sen. Street and I have introduced our bill, the expectation is that a state rep will copy our legislation and pass it through the House,” Laughlin said.

That step, he said, would show House support for the different approach and let him approach Shapiro and Senate leaders with the concept for a plausible new revenue stream.

A spokesperson for Democrats who control the House, Beth Rementer, said only that the chamber would review the Laughlin-Street bill “if or when it passes the Senate.”

Street said the bill would “lift up” communities harmed by the “prohibition” on legal marijuana and expunge criminal records for low-level marijuana offenses.

Shapiro favors legalization, which has occurred in five of the six states that border Pennsylvania. In his budget address, he said it made no sense to have the marijuana business remain in the shadows and to have potential revenue going to neighboring states.

Every one of the 101 Republicans in the House voted against the last bill. One of them was Rep. Kathy Rapp of Warren County, the top Republican on the Health Committee.

She opposes legalization for multiple reasons, noting that marijuana remains a controlled substance under federal law and studies have shown its use increases mental health issues among teenagers.

“I don’t believe this is the best way to solve budget problems,” Rapp said.