The 2025-26 Budget: Overview of the Federal CalWORKs Pilot [Publication Details]

Feb 21, 2025 - 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.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/4978

LAO Publications

It would also allow the state to begin addressing more of its retirement liabilities sooner. Our approach focuses on high-interest debts that the state is otherwise not addressing. Specifically, we suggest the Legislature prioritize: (1) the state’s pension system for judges and (2) retiree health benefits for state and Californi a State University employees.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications?page=109&year=0&productid=0&categoryid=0

LAO Publications

It would also allow the state to begin addressing more of its retirement liabilities sooner. Our approach focuses on high-interest debts that the state is otherwise not addressing. Specifically, we suggest the Legislature prioritize: (1) the state’s pension system for judges and (2) retiree health benefits for state and Californi a State University employees.
https://lao.ca.gov/publications?page=20&year=0&productid=7&categoryid=0

LAO Publications

It would also allow the state to begin addressing more of its retirement liabilities sooner. Our approach focuses on high-interest debts that the state is otherwise not addressing. Specifically, we suggest the Legislature prioritize: (1) the state’s pension system for judges and (2) retiree health benefits for state and Californi a State University employees.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications?page=20&year=0&productid=7&categoryid=0

The 2025-26 Budget: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Feb 25, 2025 - However, patients may also be placed in such beds in a state hospital operated by the Department of State Hospitals (DSH) through a referral process. There is a total of 1,632 of these beds —1 ,296 in prisons and 336 in state hospitals.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4986

The 2025-26 Budget: Department of Justice

Feb 19, 2025 - Additionally, BFS provides service to various state, federal, and other entities. Finally, BFS operates the state ’s DNA laboratory as well as the state ’s criminalistics training institute. Local Entities Use Most of BFS Services.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4972

The 2025-26 Budget: Transitional Kindergarten

Feb 18, 2025 - State Has Supported TK Expansion Through Several Initiatives. In 2021 ‑22 and 2022 ‑23, the state provided a total of $1.2  billion in one ‑time funding to support TK expansion. These  augmentations include: Facility Support ($590   Million).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4968

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

Feb 18, 2025 - The California State Parks Library Pass Program provides free access to state parks through 33,000 passes that can be checked out from public library branches throughout the state. Passes can be checked out by all library card holders.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4967

The 2025-26 Budget: Food Assistance Programs

Feb 19, 2025 - The federal government gave states the option to provide state-funded food assistance to populations affected by the 1996 policy change (such as legal permanent residents who arrived less than five years ago).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4971

The 2025-26 Budget: Expanded Learning Opportunities Program

Feb 20, 2025 - As a result, additional district enrollment is unlikely to create significant future cost pressure for the state after the phase in of TK, and could potentially reduce state costs over the long term.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4977