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

Mar 18, 2026 - The Bay and Delta form one of the country ’s largest estuaries (where fresh water mixes with salt water). Its greater watershed —including the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers and their tributaries (such as the Feather, American, Mokelumne, and Tuolumne Rivers) —drains water from about 40  percent of the state ’s landmass.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5163

The 2026-27 Budget: Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation Proposals

Mar 19, 2026 - For example, lack of funding could limit the state ’s CEQA guidance capacity, delay or interrupt the implementation of some of LCI ’s programs, and result in noncompliance with statutory requirements.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5167

The 2026-27 Budget: Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation Proposals [Publication Details]

Mar 19, 2026 - In this post, we assess the Governor's budget augmentation proposals for the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation's administrative and policy activities and statutorily required activities.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5167

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

Mar 2, 2026 - Current state law requires the water boards to provide public notice of draft state-only dredge/fill permits and consider and respond to written comments before adoption. By contrast, dredge/fill certifications only require public notice of an application and do not require responses to comments.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5144

The 2026-27 Budget: Proposed Zero-Emission Vehicle Incentive

Feb 24, 2026 - Background State Trying to Meet Ambitious Climate Goals and Strict Air Pollution Requirements. California has adopted a variety of goals related to reducing GHGs. Additionally, the state must meet requirements related to regional and local air pollution.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5140

Overview of New Updates to the Cap-and-Invest Program

Dec 9, 2025 - Many of these higher allowance costs likely would be passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices for GHG ‑intensive  products. Changes in GGRF Allocations Will Affect Funding for Particular Programs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5097

The 2026-27 Budget: California Public Utilities Commission’s Implementation of AB 1207

Feb 10, 2026 - We expect that undertaking such relative ly minor modifications should require a much-reduced level of staffing compared to the proposed level. Given that the exact level of ongoing resources that will be required is uncertain until the work is underway, supporting whatever activities the Legislature elects to fund on a limited-term basis would allow for time to ascertain what level of ongoing support might be needed in the future.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5120

The 2026-27 Budget: Governor’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Tax Credit Proposal

Feb 24, 2026 - At the federal level, RFS is a policy that requires a designated level of renewable fuels to be sold annually in the United States. Refiners and importers must either sell their share of the required volumes themselves or buy credits (known as Renewable Identification Numbers or RINs) from other producers that generate an excess of credits.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5139

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

Feb 10, 2026 - The  budget proposes $14  million one time from the General Fund for required habitat mitigation projects associated with Sacramento ‑San Joaquin Delta levee projects. State law requires mitigation when a project disturbs or destroys habitat.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5116

The 2026-27 Budget: Proposition 4 Spending Plan

Feb 10, 2026 - Overall, Proposed Plan Seems Reasonable and Consistent With Bond Requirements. Based on our review, the Governor ’s proposal appears reasonable. We have not identified any proposed actions or appropriations that conflict with bond requirements, and the timing of the funding allocations generally seems to account for and align with what we know about department capacity and local demand.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5115