Featured Items

Staff
Helen Kerstein
(916) 319-8364
Air Quality, Energy, Climate Change, and High-Speed Rail
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.

Post

The 2025-26 Budget: Cap-and-Trade Reauthorization and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Proposals at May Revision

May 19, 2025 - Describes and comments on the Governor's May Revision proposals for reauthorizing the cap-and-trade program and spending Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund revenues.

Handout

Cap-and-Trade Program: Key Choices Ahead

May 8, 2025 - Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection and Energy and Senate Environmental Quality Committee

Report

Assessing California’s Climate Policies: Cap-and-Trade Reauthorization

May 7, 2025 - This report is intended to help inform legislative decision-making around reauthorization of the cap-and-trade program. It is submitted pursuant to Chapter 135 of 2017 (AB 398, Garcia), which requires our office to report annually on the economic impacts and benefits of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.

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The 2025-26 Budget: State Mandate—Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board

May 5, 2025 - In this budget post, we discuss a municipal stormwater mandate issued by the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board in 2009 for local governments in Orange County.

Handout

The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: Current Status and Choices Ahead

April 30, 2025 - Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy and Transportation

Handout

Wildfire Response and Recovery in California

April 28, 2025 - Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 6 on Public Safety

Handout

Overview of State Wildfire Resilience Funding, Actions, and Considerations

April 23, 2025 - Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy and Transportation

Handout

Wildfire Spending and Energy Affordability

March 5, 2025 - Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy

Handout

Proposed Proposition 4 Spending Plan

February 27, 2025 - Presented to: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection and Energy

Handout

Cap-and-Trade: Overview and Affordability Considerations

February 26, 2025 - Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies

Brief

The 2025-26 Budget: Various California Air Resources Board Proposals

February 24, 2025 - This brief analyzes various budget proposals from the California Air Resources Board.

Handout

Proposed Proposition 4 Spending Plan

February 19, 2025 - Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation

Brief

The 2025-26 Budget: Natural Resources and Agriculture Discretionary Spending Proposals

February 18, 2025 - This brief discusses three discretionary General Fund spending proposals in the agriculture and natural resources policy areas.

Brief

The 2025-26 Budget: Cap-and-Trade Expenditure Plan

February 12, 2025 - In this brief, we assess the Governor’s cap-and-trade expenditure plan for 2025-26 and provide associated recommendations.

Brief

The 2025-26 Budget: Proposition 4 Spending Plan

February 12, 2025 - This brief assesses the Governor’s proposals to implement Proposition 4, the $10 billion climate bond approved by voters in November 2024.