Staff
Helen Kerstein
(916) 319-8364
Air Quality, Energy, Climate Change, and High-Speed Rail
Luke Koushmaro
(916) 319-8355
Mass Transportation, Traffic Enforcement, Statewide Planning and Infrastructure
Sonja Petek
(916) 319-8340
Water, Coastal Development, and Fish and Wildlife
Frank Jimenez
(916) 319-8324
Highways and Roads, Recycling, and Toxics
Rachel Ehlers
(916) 319-8330
Deputy Legislative Analyst: Environment and Transportation


Publications

Environment and Natural Resources

To browse all LAO publications, visit our Publications page.



Report

CalFacts 2024

December 2, 2024 - CalFacts presents a wide range of facts and trends about the state's economy, finances, and programs.


Post

The 2024-25 California Spending Plan: Resources and Environmental Protection

September 12, 2024 - The 2024‑25 budget package provides a total of $17.8 billion from various fund sources—the General Fund, a number of special funds, bond funds, and federal funds—for the departments overseen by the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) and California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA). This amount represents about half of total 2023‑24 estimated expenditure levels. This significant year-to-year decrease is primarily due to a large amount of one-time funding—mostly from the General Fund—available for the departments within both agencies in 2023‑24, including large amounts of funds carried over from prior years. As discussed in this post, many departments continue to receive some one-time funding augmentations in 2024‑25, but at notably lower aggregate levels. Despite the year-to-year decline in funding, the 2024‑25 totals exceed the historical levels of funding that these agencies received prior to the state experiencing General Fund surpluses in recent years.


Brief

The 2024-25 Budget: CalFire—Implementation of a 66-Hour Workweek

March 19, 2024 - In this brief, we analyze the Governor's proposal to implement a 66-hour workweek for California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection firefighters.


Handout

Overview of Proposed Climate and Transportation Budget Solutions

March 6, 2024 - Presented to: Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy and Transportation


Brief

The 2024-25 Budget: Sustainable Funding for the Department of Pesticide Regulation

March 5, 2024 - In this post, we assess the Governor's proposal to increase the mill assessment—a tax levied on pesticides when first sold into or within the state—to address the structural deficit within the Department of Pesticide Regulation’s special fund and to support various programmatic expansions for the department.


Handout

Crafting Climate, Resources, and Environmental Budget Solutions

February 29, 2024 - Presented to: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection and Energy


Report

The 2024-25 Budget: Insolvency Risks for Environmental and Transportation Special Funds

February 27, 2024 - This report provides information and recommendations for the Legislature to consider regarding various environmental and transportation special funds that are at risk of insolvency.


Brief

The 2024-25 Budget: Salton Sea Management Program

February 26, 2024 - In this brief, we analyze the Governor’s budget proposals related to Salton Sea management.


Brief

The 2024-25 Budget: Flood Management Proposals

February 26, 2024 - In this brief, we analyze the Governor’s budget proposals related to flood management.


Handout

Overview of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act

February 21, 2024 - Presented to: Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy and Transportation


Brief

The 2024-25 Budget: Cap-and-Trade Expenditure Plan

February 20, 2024 - This posts describes the Governor's $2.3 billion discretionary cap-and-trade expenditure plan proposal.


Report

The 2024-25 Budget: Crafting Climate, Resources, and Environmental Budget Solutions

February 14, 2024 - This report describes the Governor’s proposed budget solutions within climate, resources, and environmental programs, and provides the Legislature with suggestions for how it might modify the spending plan to better reflect its priorities and prepare to address a potentially larger budget problem.


Handout

The Cap-and-Trade Program: Issues for Legislative Consideration

February 13, 2024 - Presented to: Senate Environmental Quality Committee Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection and Energy


Report

Assessing Early Implementation of Urban Water Use Efficiency Requirements

January 4, 2024 - Legislation approved in 2018 established a long-term urban water use efficiency framework to “Make Conservation a California Way of Life,” creating new requirements for urban retail water suppliers across the state. This report responds to a requirement that our office assess implementation of the framework.


Brief

California’s Cap-and-Trade Program: Frequently Asked Questions

October 24, 2023 - This post answers commonly asked questions about cap-and-trade—one of the state’s key programs to address greenhouse gas emissions—and the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.