New Infrastructure Legislation: Summary and Issues for Legislative Oversight

Aug 8, 2023 - Extends the Governor ’s existing, similar authority to streamline CEQA judicial review for certain other types of projects from January  1,  2024 to January 1, 2032. Infrastructure Contracting —Chapter 58 of 2023 (SB 146, Gonzalez) Reports By July 1, 2024, and annually thereafter until July 1, 2033, Caltrans must report on its website information on active and expired job order contracts.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4785

What Threat Does Sea-Level Rise Pose to California?

Aug 10, 2020 - A 2018 report by the State Coastal Conservancy and The Nature Conservancy found that 55 percent of California’s existing coastal habitats are highly vulnerable to five feet of SLR, including 60 percent of the state’s iconic beaches, 58 percent of rocky intertidal habitat, 58 percent of marshes, and 55 percent of tidal flats.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4261

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Natural Resources and Environmental Protection

Oct 16, 2025 - This program supports coordinators in 47 of 58 counties who work with local organizations and residents to improve community wildfire preparedness through education, events, and grant funding. Home Hardening Program.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5080

The 2022-23 California Spending Plan: Resources and Environmental Protection

Oct 10, 2022 - This increase primarily is due to $58  million provided for the department in the Wildfire and Forest Resilience and Nature-Based Solutions packages (discussed in the “Crosscutting Issues ” section of this post), as well as the augmentations discussed below.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4633

The 2026-27 Budget: Proposed Zero-Emission Vehicle Incentive

Feb 24, 2026 - The state has made notable progress in pursuing its ZEV adoption goals in recent years, with the share of new passenger vehicles sold in California that are ZEVs climbing from 8  percent in 2020 to over 20  percent in 2025.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5140

The Bay-Delta Plan and Voluntary Agreements: Ensuring Effective Legislative Oversight

Mar 18, 2026 - These numbers represent about 25  percent and 8  percent, respectively, of their historic annual averages prior to being listed as threatened or endangered under state law. Other fish that migrate through or live in the Delta also are listed as threatened or endangered, including Central Valley steelhead and Delta smelt.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5163

The 2026-27 Budget: Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation Proposals

Mar 19, 2026 - Figure  1 provides a breakdown of the proposals. As shown, the funding request includes $10.5  million ongoing to support IT, administrative, legislative, and land policy staff and activities. For implementing various statutory responsibilities, the Governor proposes $741,000 in 2026-27, $1.7  million in 2027-28, $1.5  million from 2028-29 through 2031-32, and $522,000 ongoing thereafter.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5167

The 2026-27 Budget: Governor’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Tax Credit Proposal

Feb 24, 2026 - The federal government also currently offers a tax credit of up to $1 per gallon for SAF that meets certain  requirements. The above policies work together to create a “stack ” of incentives for SAF production.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5139

The 2026-27 Budget: Framework for Approaching the Natural Resources, Environmental Protection, and Agriculture Budget

Feb 10, 2026 - Special Fund Proposals May Have Unique Considerations … As highlighted in Figure  1 and Figure  2, the General Fund is not the main source of support for most CNRA and CalEPA departments. In contrast, many of these departments are primarily supported by special funds (along with bonds and federal funds).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5116

The 2026-27 Budget: Proposed Elimination of State Environmental Positions

Feb 17, 2026 - The final budget agreement instead eliminated fewer positions (4,994) and provided the Legislature additional time to review 1,009 additional positions which we refer to as “residual: ” (1)  those associated with implementing legislation chaptered in 2022 and 2023 across numerous departments, and (2)  all of those in nine specified departments which we highlight in Figure  1.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5124