The 2026-27 Budget: Office of Emergency Services Next Generation 911 System

Feb 27, 2026 - It is unclear if OES ’s choices are consistent with the Legislature ’s preferences if faced with the same set of options and trade ‑ offs —particularly since OES has not provided information on the trade ‑offs and costs of the alternatives it considered, nor sought formal legislative input (such as proposing the change through trailer bill language) as it moves forward with its plans.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5145

The 2025-26 Budget: Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Reorganization

Feb 25, 2025 - (This was an underlying rationale for peeling off transportation from BTH and giving it its own agency 12 years ago.) Almost by definition, breaking apart any agency, however, would allow it to focus more on a smaller set of issues.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4987

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

Jan 13, 2025 - This means that, going forward, decisions to balance the budget will involve more difficult trade ‑offs. We recommend the Legislature use the next few months to review program performance to develop its own approach to addressing the deficits.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4951

The 2020-21 Budget: Governor’s Proposal to Transfer the Seismic Safety Commission

Feb 12, 2020 - …But Also Some Notable Trade ‑Offs. While the Governor ’s proposal to transfer the SSC has strengths, it also comes with some key trade ‑offs. In particular, the proposal would decrease SSC ’s independence by placing it squarely within the administration and not including provisions in the budget trailer legislation explicitly providing for its independence.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4158

The 2022-23 Budget: Vote by Mail Ballots: Prepaid Postage

May 13, 2022 - Voters can use a VBM ballot and return it to elections officials using either (1)  the United States Postal Service (USPS) or (2)  a ballot drop off location. Alternatively, voters can vote in person at a  voting location.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4596

The 2025-26 Budget: State Departments’ Operational Efficiencies (Control Sections 4.05 and 4.12)

Feb 19, 2025 - In other words, the Legislature will know what to expect and will not be caught off guard when hearing about those actions going forward. If the final report includes actions that significantly deviate from what is discussed in the subcommittee process, the Legislature could use May Revision hearings to understand the differences.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4975

Mental Health Services Act: Proposed Bond to Fund Behavioral Health Facilities and Veterans Housing

Aug 17, 2023 - After selling bonds, the state makes annual payments over the following few decades until the bonds are paid off. (This is similar to the way a family pays off a mortgage.) Although when compared with the pay-as-you-go approach, the up-front cost to the state of bond financing a project is significantly lower, overall costs are higher due to the interest on the debt.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4790

Proposed Changes to Veterans Home in Yountville

Mar 6, 2018 - In addition, the master plan is intended to provide the Legislature with guidance on how to prioritize and think about the trade-offs associated with prioritizing certain proposed changes to the system over others.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3771

Improving Legislative Oversight of Emergency Authorities

Apr 10, 2025 - This process is designed to allow the Legislature to seek input from stakeholders, consider trade ‑offs, and build consensus among a majority of members in each house. In contrast, the Governor can make decisions more quickly.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5029

After Furloughs: State Workers' Leave Balances - After Furloughs: State Workers' Leave Balances [Video]

This report exa mines whether state employees took this additional time off —or whether, after accounting for changes in use of vacation and other time, they worked about as many days as they did before.
https://lao.ca.gov/Videos/Player?playlistId=83