The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Housing, Homelessness and Local Government

Oct 22, 2025 - The budget package allows affordable housing developers funded by HCD to access and reinvest equity in their affordable housing projects in order to finance further investments in other affordable housing projects, subject to specified limitations.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5082

The 2025-26 Budget: State Mandates—Regional Water Quality Control Boards

May 30, 2025 - San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board ’s Order in Riverside County. CSM determined that several of the requirements in the permit issued by the regional board in 2010 constitute state-reimbursable mandates for Riverside County and the cities of Riverside County that are within the San Diego region.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5054

Sheriff Court-Security Services Mandate

May 27, 2016 - LAO Comments Sheriff Court-Security Services Mandate Would Be Added to Backlog. Under the Governor ’s proposal, county costs related to this mandate would be added to the existing backlog for mandate claims.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3478

The 2025-26 Budget: State Mandate—Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board

May 5, 2025 - Because the California Constitution does not require the state to reimburse local governments for costs to comply with federal law, disagreements have arisen over the years about whether all of the requirements in a given water quality permit are specifically required by federal law or whether they impose ad ditional requirements from the state.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5039

The 2020-21 Budget: U-Visa I-918 Form Mandate

Mar 4, 2020 - While applicants must submit the certification document in order for their Federal Form I-918 to be approved, government officials are not required to complete the certification document. Similarly, officials are able to withdraw a certification document at any time if an applicant stops cooperating.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4192

The 2016-17 Budget: Local Government Mandates--Reasonable Reimbursement Methodology

Mar 17, 2016 - In 1979, voters passed Proposition 4, which added a requirement to the California Constitution that local governments be reimbursed for new programs or higher levels of service that the state imposes on them.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3395

Climate Change Impacts Across California - Crosscutting Issues

Apr 5, 2022 - Many existing buildings and infrastructure will need to be modified in order to avoid serious damage from climate change impacts. For instance, due to warmer average temperatures and more frequent heatwaves, school facilities in historically temperate regions may need to consider remodeling playgrounds with more heat ‑resistant materials and shade structures, or adding air conditioning systems.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4575

Post Election Manual Tally Mandate

Jan 13, 2016 - LAO Comments Post Election Manual Tally Mandate Would Be Added to Backlog. Under the Governor ’s proposal, county costs related to this mandate would be added to the existing backlog for mandate claims.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3327

The 2019-20 May Revision: Opportunity Zones

May 11, 2019 - This added complexity could create increased administrative burdens for builders, lenders, and government agencies tasked with funding affordable housing. Added complexity also could open the possibility of unintended consequences or misuse of funds.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4038

How Has COVID-19 Affected Renters and Homeowners?

Jan 19, 2021 - We hope that by shedding light on how COVID ‑19 has added to the financial stress of renters, we can inform policy solutions to help renters through this crisis. In particular, the state and local governments will soon have to determine how to allocate recently authorized federal funding for emergency rental assistance.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4312