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

Feb 27, 2026 - If security and privacy protections need to be upgraded or added on later, who will p ay for these improvements? Is There Sufficient Oversight of This Project? What policies and governance models are needed to ensure that the transition to Next Generation 911  is  successful?
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5145

The 2025-26 Budget: The California State Payroll System IT Project

Mar 7, 2025 - (The project added California State University as a mega processing department for this analysis because, although they are not a civil service state department, their payroll is processed by the current USPS.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5011

The 2026-27 Budget: Contract to Achieve Operational Efficiencies

Mar 10, 2026 - For example, the budget subcommittees could (1)  ask questions to better understand the potential benefits of using a contractor to identify efficiencies as opposed to directing departments to develop them, (2)  ask for an update on the work with CDCR and The State Fund given that the activities will have likely progressed somewhat since February, and (3)  probe the administration to better understand the expected benefits and time line of the delayed work at DHCS.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5156

The 2020-21 Budget: The Governor’s Cannabis‑Related Proposals

Feb 14, 2020 - For example, tiered ad valorem and potency ‑based likely are best for reducing harmful use, but basic ad valorem is easiest to administer. Given these trade ‑offs, we found that the Legislature ’s choice depends heavily on the relative importance it places on each criterion.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4162

The 2025-26 Budget: CDTFA’s Tobacco Programs

Feb 14, 2025 - Questions for Legislative Oversight As budget subcommittees conduct oversight over CDTFA ’s tobacco programs, they may wish to ask the following questions. What are the major ways that consumers obtain untaxed tobacco products?
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4966

The 2018-19 Budget: Census Outreach

Mar 8, 2018 - Department of Justice requested that a question on citizenship be added to the census. No decision on this issue has been announced. The final census form is due to Congress at the end of March  2018.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3780

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

Feb 12, 2020 - Given the important questions raised by the Governor ’s proposal, we recommend that the Legislature seek additional information from the administration at budget hearings. Specifically, we recommend that the Legislature ask the administration questions about the following issues: Independence.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4158

The 2022-23 Budget: Office of Planning and Research Budget Proposals

Feb 9, 2022 - A third shortcoming is that the added value of rewarding existing activities potentially begun without state direction, funding, or reporting is  questionable. Proposed Award Initiative Lacks Focus. Though innovation award initiatives by design are problematic, the Governor ’s proposal is especially concerning given its broad scope ranging from higher education to climate change to any other area of interest to the administration.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4523

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

Feb 19, 2025 - In Figure  2, we present questions that the subcommittees could use to direct the conversation through each of these categories. The overarching goals of these questions —and the discussion broadly —is to ensure that the Legislature is comfortable that the effects of the identified savings are consistent with Legislative priorities and intent.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4975

The 2025-26 Budget: EDDNext

Feb 25, 2025 - While changes in project allocations and scope may be warranted, they also raise questions about how appropriations the Legislature is asked to approve are ultimately calculated, allocated, and spent.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4985