The 2026-27 Budget: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Feb 23, 2026 - This brief provides our analysis of the Governor’s 2026-27 budget proposals related to California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5137

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

Feb 17, 2026 - While eliminating vacancies could appear to be an easy way to achieve ongoing budgetary savings, in some cases doing so co uld undermine environmental departments ’ long-term capacity and ability to achieve the goals and tasks laid out for them in state law.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5124

Oversight of certain public benefit artificial intelligence (AI) companies. [Ballot]

Jan 20, 2026 - Civil penalties on covered co mpanies may be assessed as a percentage of annual gross revenue, beginning at 5 percent for initial violations and increasing to as much as 100 percent for violations that remain u ncured over specified time periods.
https://lao.ca.gov/BallotAnalysis/Initiative/2025-033

Time limits, environmental reviews, and judicial reviews for certain types of infrastructure projects. [Ballot]

Dec 10, 2025 - Co nversely, if the project would have significant environmental impacts, some of which cannot be avoided or mitigated, the agency must develop a more detailed analysis of the environ mental effects known as an environmental impact report (EIR).
https://lao.ca.gov/BallotAnalysis/Initiative/2025-023

Major Higher Education Budget Developments [EdBudget]

Nov 12, 2025 - Makes a major change to how the MCS program is funded by locking in award coverage, funding the program one year in arrears, and using a General Fund loan to pay for budget-year co sts. Rejects funding for College Corps and the California College of the Arts.
https://lao.ca.gov/Education/EdBudget/Details/1024

Major Higher Education Budget Developments [EdBudget]

Nov 5, 2025 - Makes a major change to how the MCS program is funded by locking in award coverage, funding the program one year in arrears, and using a General Fund loan to pay for budget-year co sts. Rejects funding for College Corps and the California College of the Arts.
https://lao.ca.gov/Education/EdBudget/Details/992

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Judiciary and Criminal Justice

Oct 24, 2025 - The program would provide certain tribal police officers of three federally recognized tribes with state peace officer authority under specific circumstances and co nditions. DOJ —in coordination with POST —is required to monitor the program on an ongoing basis.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5085

MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 8 (Firefighters)

Aug 19, 2025 - The 2024-25 budget package included trailer bill legislation that requires CalFire to report on the wildfire resilience-related co-benefits achieved as a result of the change in the duty week. CalFire is not expected to begin reporting to the Legislature on the experience of reducing the duty week from 72 hours to 66 hours until spring 2026.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5066

MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 6 (Corrections)

Jun 23, 2025 - Specifically, whether a co mpensation study is prepared by CalHR or a third party, any decisions about design, methodology, preparation, conduct, and reporting of the study should (1)  be developed without consultation with bargaining unit representatives and, instead, be the product solely of the study preparer; (2)  result in compensation studies that are consistent across all
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5058

Assessing California’s Climate Policies—Cap-and-Trade Reauthorization

May 7, 2025 - We note that to the extent the Legislature would like to direct additional spending toward reducing GHGs, such as by funding GHG reductions outside of the capped sectors, it would be important to consider factors such as (1)  the cost ‑effectiveness of this spending; (2)  how this spending interacts with other programs besides cap ‑and ‑trade; (3)  any co ‑benefits beyond GHG
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5042