California’s Strong Revenue Trends Mask Looming Budget Risk

Jan 23, 2026 - Unpacking this question calls for revisiting what is driving the state ’s current revenue boom. As we described in our November Fiscal Outlook , the recent stronger-than-expected revenue trends are almost entirely explained by the personal income tax (PIT), which has seen double digit growth this year.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5104

LAO 2005 Budget Analysis: Department of Motor Vehicles (2740)

Such delays undercut the purpose of the l aw, which is to protect public safety by facilitating the timely removal of dangerous drivers from the roadways, and reduce the law's effectiveness. Department Uses Efficiencies and Overtime to Reduce Delays in DUI Hearings.
https://lao.ca.gov/analysis_2005/transportation/tran_05_2740_anl05.htm

App-based rideshare and delivery drivers. [Ballot]

Dec 18, 2019 - To limit these new costs, rideshare and delivery com panies might hire fewer drivers. These companies also would eventually increase fares and delivery charges to make up for their new costs. Responses by Consumers.
https://lao.ca.gov/BallotAnalysis/Initiative/2019-026

Recent Trends in Young Adult Mortality

Dec 10, 2024 - Driving speed is a major risk factor for motor vehicle fatalities. We have seen some indications that extreme speeding has grown substantially. As shown in Figure  21 , citations issued by CHP for driving over 100 miles per hour nearly doubled between 2019 and 2020.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4945

Home Price Update: October 2021 [EconTax Blog]

Nov 18, 2021 - Previous recessions have had disparate effects on home prices: they were largely unaffected by the collapse of the dot-com bubble in 2001, while in the late 2000s the collapse of the housing bubble was the single biggest factor that led to the financial crisis.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/714

Home Prices Update: September 2021 [EconTax Blog]

Oct 20, 2021 - Previous recessions have had disparate effects on home prices: they were largely unaffected by the collapse of the dot-com bubble in 2001, while in the late 2000s the collapse of the housing bubble was the single biggest factor that led to the financial crisis.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/706

Insurance regulation. [Ballot]

Sep 30, 2025 - These rules say automobile insurance rates must be based primarily on three factors: (1) the driver ’s safety record, (2) how much they drive each year, and (3) the number of years they have been driving.
https://lao.ca.gov/BallotAnalysis/Initiative/2025-012

How Have Past Stock Market Downturns Affected Income Tax Revenue? [EconTax Blog]

Mar 9, 2026 - By most measures, the global financial crisis was more severe than the dot-com crash. The state 's unemployment rate, for example, peaked at 7 percent following the dot-com crash but reached nearly double that during the financial crisis and remained elevated for much longer.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/852

How Have Past Stock Market Downturns Affected Income Tax Revenue? [EconTax Blog]

Mar 9, 2026 - By most measures, the global financial crisis was more severe than the dot-com crash. The state 's unemployment rate, for example, peaked at 7 percent following the dot-com crash but reached nearly double that during the financial crisis and remained elevated for much longer.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/article/Detail/852

Rideshare companies. [Ballot]

Dec 17, 2025 - Most drivers for rideshare companies drive part-time and many only work for less than a year. California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Regulates Rideshare Companies. The state —through CPUC —oversees rideshare companies by regulating their operations, issuing them operating permits, and investigating complaints against them.
https://lao.ca.gov/BallotAnalysis/Initiative/2025-029