To browse all LAO publications, visit our Publications page.
April 29, 2025 - This post discusses a new process introduced by the administration to plan, develop, and implement generative artificial intelligence projects—the Project Delivery Lifecycle—and its potential impacts on legislative oversight of technology projects.
March 7, 2025 - This post provides issues for legislative consideration, as well as questions for the Legislature to ask, ahead of an expected May Revision budget proposal to fund development and implementation of the California State Payroll System information technology project.
March 6, 2025 - This post provides an overview of the Governor’s proposed 2025-26 budget for In-Home Supportive Services, provides updates on some of the most recent prior-year policy changes, and raises questions and issues for the Legislature to consider.
March 5, 2025 - This post provides our analysis of the administration’s 2025-26 proposal for the Child Welfare Services-California Automated Response and Engagement System information technology project. In the post, we summarize the current status of the project, assess the funding proposal and upcoming project risks and workload, and offer the Legislature recommendations to improve how it funds and oversees the project.
February 21, 2025 -
In this post, we provide background on the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program, information on the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families pilot and California’s pilot application, and comments and questions for the Legislature to consider surrounding the implementation of the pilot.
(03/20/25) Update on Federal Pilot. In March 2025, the federal government notified the five previously selected pilot states—California, Maine, Kentucky, Minnesota, and Ohio—that these states were deselected from the pilot project. The federal Administration for Children and Families (ACF) indicated it plans to take a new approach to the pilot program and will issue a new request for proposals from states. The previously selected pilot states will not be subject to work participation rate requirements for federal fiscal year 2025. More information is available on the ACF website.
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.
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.
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.
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.