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February 19, 2025 - In this post, we provide background on the state’s major food assistance programs, CalFresh and the California Food Assistance Program; provide updates on caseload trends; and analyze the Governor’s proposed food assistance budget. Under the Governor’s budget, there are no major newly proposed augmentations or solutions.
February 19, 2025 - In this post, we provide some basic background on the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program followed by an overview and assessment of the Governor’s CalWORKs budget proposals.
February 13, 2025 - In this post, we provide some background on the Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP) Program, followed by an overview of the Governor's 2025-26 budget proposals and assumptions for SSI/SSP. The post also provides comparisons between SSI/SSP grant levels and the increasing cost of living in the state.
February 13, 2025 - This post provides an overview of the Governor’s proposed 2025-26 budget for child welfare and foster care programs under the Department of Social Services, and raises questions and issues for the Legislature to consider.
February 5, 2025 - This report assesses $1.8 billion in behavioral health infrastructure grants awarded in 2022 and 2023 to help the Legislature conduct oversight over $4.4 billion in additional grants funded by the Proposition 1 bond expected to be awarded beginning May 2025.
January 13, 2025 - Update (1/16/25): A set of tables detailing various solutions and proposals has been appended to the online version of this report. They are available using the HTML link above.
On January 10, 2025, Governor Newsom’s administration presented its proposed state budget to the California Legislature. In this report, we provide a brief summary of the Governor’s budget based on our initial review as of January 12. In the coming weeks, we will analyze the plan in more detail and release many additional issue-specific budget analyses. For those additional analyses, please see our budget page.
December 10, 2024 - This report examines recent trends in age 15 to 44 mortality and breaks out this growth by underlying causes of death. It also takes a closer look at some of the major causes of death and notes some key issues for legislative consideration.
December 2, 2024 - CalFacts presents a wide range of facts and trends about the state's economy, finances, and programs.
November 20, 2024 - This post provides our annual fiscal outlook for General Fund spending in Medi-Cal. It summarizes our projections, describes the major factors driving our projections, and highlights key uncertainties.
October 16, 2024 - This post summarizes the state’s 2024-25 spending package for housing and homelessness.
October 2, 2024 - The 2024-25 spending plan provides around $31 billion from the General Fund for human services programs across 11 state departments, councils, and commissions. This represents a net increase of nearly $1.8 billion, or 6 percent, compared to the revised prior-year spending level.
September 17, 2024 - This post summarizes spending on health programs in the 2024-25 budget package.
August 13, 2024 - Presented to: Senate Committee on Health Assembly Committee on Health
August 13, 2024 - Presented to: Senate Committee on Health Assembly Committee on Health
May 29, 2024 - Provides initial high-level takeaways and comments regarding May Revision proposals for the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program. Includes comments on the overall CalWORKs budget with a focus on new proposals at the time of the administration’s May Revision.