The 2026-27 Budget: Department of Developmental Services

Mar 13, 2026 - Chapter  4 of 2016 (S B  3 , Leno) has gradually increased California ’s statewide minimum wage from $8 per hour to $16 per hour. Under S B  3 , the statewide minimum wage will continue to increase by up to 3.5  percent each year, depending on inflation.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5157

The 2026-27 Budget: Medi-Cal Analysis

Mar 2, 2026 - The reduction to the state ’s health plan tax revenue is not necessarily required by H.R. 1 in the short term. Rather, the lower revenues are due to the interaction of H.R.  1 ’s new proportionality rules with Proposition  35 ’s limit on taxing commercial enrollment.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5146

The 2026-27 Budget: Medi-Cal Fiscal Outlook

Nov 19, 2025 - With so many moving pieces, and the s tate ’s overall fiscal situation still heading in the wrong direction, the Legislature may need to continue considering its Medi ‑Cal priorities in the coming years.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5092

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Health

Oct 16, 2025 - To maintain licensure, these entities must (1)  act in a payor ’s best interests; (2)  submit financial statements to DMHC; and (3)  submit drug pricing data to HCAI, among other requirements. Pharmacy benefit managers are to pay annual fees to support DMHC ’s and HCAI ’s ongoing regulatory costs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5075

Considering Medi-Cal in the Midst of a Changing Fiscal and Policy Landscape

Oct 24, 2025 - Taken together, H.R.  1 ’s changes to Medicaid will reduce federal funding for California. Some of these reductions will have direct effects on the state ’s General Fund, either by increasing or reducing costs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5083

An Update on the Public Health Laboratory System After the Pandemic

Jun 12, 2025 - Does the Laboratory System ’s Capacity Meet Core Responsibilities? Based on the assessment of the laboratory system ’s capacity, the Legislature could assess whether that capacity appears to be sufficient to meet the system ’s core responsibilities.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5056

The 2025-26 Budget: MCO Tax and Proposition 35

Feb 26, 2025 - Pursuant to last year ’s trigger language, the Governor ’s budget assumes the remaining augmentations under the state ’s previous spending plan (those scheduled to begin in 2025 and 2026) are no longer in effect.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4992

The 2025-26 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget

Jan 13, 2025 - Governor ’s Budget Includes Some Smaller Proposals. The Governor ’s budget includes three categories of discretionary proposals. First, some proposals provide short ‑term budget savings that create more budget capacity.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4951

Building California’s Behavioral Health Infrastructure: Progress Update and Opportunities for the Proposition 1 Bond

Feb 5, 2025 - These troubling trends have accelerated since the COVID ‑19 pandemic and have made improving California ’s behavioral health system a priority for the state ’s policymakers. Demand for Behavioral Health Services Not Being Met.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4954

The 2025-26 Budget: Medi-Cal Pharmacy Spending

Apr 3, 2025 - Under these formulas, a dru g ’s initial rebate is between 13  percent and 23  percent of its price, depending on the type of drug. Over time, the initial rebate increases if the drug ’s price rises faster than inflation.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5026