The 2026-27 Budget: Child Care and State Preschool

Mar 19, 2026 - For example, a family of three must earn less than $93,418 annually in 2025 ‑26 to be eligible for programs. b Family earned at least 50 percent of their total gross income from employment in fishing, agriculture, or agriculturally related work during the 12 months immediately preceding the date of application for services. c Child must have an individualized education program or
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5168

The 2026-27 Budget: Re-Envisioning State Education Governance

Mar 18, 2026 - The California Master Plan for Education 2004 California Performance Review A commission appointed by the Governor to gather feedback from state employees and recommend ideas for improving the delivery of government services.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5165

The Bay-Delta Plan and Voluntary Agreements: Ensuring Effective Legislative Oversight [Publication Details]

Mar 18, 2026 - This report discusses the State Water Resources Control Board’s (SWRCB’s) proposed—and long-overdue—update of the water quality control plan for the San Francisco Bay-Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, which includes an alternative compliance pathway for certain water users called voluntary agreements (VAs, also known as Healthy Rivers and Landscapes).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5163

The Bay-Delta Plan and Voluntary Agreements: Ensuring Effective Legislative Oversight

Mar 18, 2026 - The Delta Also Provides Vital Habitat to Hundreds of Fish and Wildlife Species. The Delta supports hundreds of fish and wildlife species, including migrating fish through the estuary and birds along the Pacific Flyway.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5163

The 2026-27 Budget: Permitting Support at the State Water Resources Control Board

Mar 2, 2026 - The state has a statutory responsibility to regulate waters that were formerly under federal jurisdiction (and has an interest in doing so given the implications for drinking and agricultural water quality and fish and wildlife habitat).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5144

The 2026-27 Budget: CDTFA’s Cannabis and Tobacco Programs

Feb 23, 2026 - This program is a key element of the Master Settlement Agreement that California and 45 other states reached with the four largest cigarette manufacturers in 1998. The California Electronic Cigarette Excise Tax Program administers a 12.5  percent tax on retail sales of e ‑cigarettes.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5132

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

Feb 23, 2026 - Receiver Has Greater Authority Than Special Master. The establishment of the mental health Receivership led to the dissolution of the Special Master. The Receiver differs from the Special Master in that a Receiver has direct executive authority and acts in place of the Secretary of CDCR in regard to the management of prison mental health.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5137

The 2026-27 Budget: Proposed Elimination of State Environmental Positions [Publication Details]

Feb 17, 2026 - In this post, we assess the Governor’s proposal to eliminate certain vacant state environmental positions.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5124

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

Feb 17, 2026 - Figure 1 2025 ‑26 Budget Agreement Allowed Legislature to Review Position Eliminations in Nine Departments Fish and Wildlife State Water Resources Control Board Toxic Substances Control Industrial Relations Office of the Inspector General JLBC Did Not Concur With the Elimination of About Two-Thirds of Residual Positions.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5124

The 2026-27 Budget: Framework for Approaching the Natural Resources, Environmental Protection, and Agriculture Budget

Feb 10, 2026 - This includes $11.3 million annually for the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), $11.2 million annually for the Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), and $8.6 million annually for the Department of Parks and Recreation (Parks), among others.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5116