Reducing the Destructiveness of Wildfires: Promoting Defensible Space in California

Sep 30, 2021 - A key strategy for reducing home losses during wildfires is for homeowners to maintain an area free of excess or dead vegetation around their homes, known as defensible space.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4457

Crude Oil by Rail—Federal Update

Dec 17, 2015 - This builds on DOT emergency regulations from 2014 that required railroad carriers to report to state emergency response officials regarding train transports of Bakken crude oil of at least 1 million gallons.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3321

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

Mar 18, 2026 - SWRCB officially began the most recent update to the Bay ‑Delta Plan in early 2009. It divided the effort into two phases based on geography, noting that each of the two major river systems is fed by snowmelt from different geographic regions, receives differing levels of precipitation, has distinct topographies, and supports different at ‑risk fish and wildlife species.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5163

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Other Provisions

Oct 16, 2025 - Chapter 115 (SB 162, Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) appropriated from the General Fund an unspecified amount to county elections officials and the Secretary of State for the “actual and reasonably necessary costs, as determined by the Director of Finance,” to conduct the election.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5081/

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Natural Resources and Environmental Protection

Oct 16, 2025 - Legislation Eases CEQA and Coastal Act Requirements for Official Olympics-Related Development. Assembly Bill 149 exempts from CEQA the construction of temporary facilities for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and also exempts any temporary Olympics facility located in the coastal zone from having to obtain a coastal development permit.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5080

Assessing California’s Climate Policies—Residential Electricity Rates in California

Jan 7, 2025 - Notably, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission —rather than CPUC or local elected officials —generally oversees the transmission portion of electricity rates, as transmission infrastructure can cross state lines.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4950

Preparing for Rising Seas: How the State Can Help Support Local Coastal Adaptation Efforts

Dec 10, 2019 - Responding to SLR Is Not Yet a Priority for Many Local Residents or Elected Officials. Because many California residents are not yet aware of how and when SLR might affect their communities, coastal adaptation actions are not a high priority for them to request from their local governments.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4121

Managing Floods in California

Mar 22, 2017 - If a local jurisdiction experiences a flood disaster that exceeds its ability to respond, local officials can declare a local emergency and request assistance from the Governor. Depending on the amount of damage, the Governor may declare an official State of Emergency and, through OES, provide funding to the affected local jurisdiction through CDAA.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3571

New Federal Toxics Law Could Have Future Implications for State

Oct 5, 2016 - Regulations to officially list these as priority products subject to alternatives analysis has not been finalized. When they are, responsible entities will have up to 180 days to complete their analyses.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3504

Lessons From Other States to Address California’s Redemption Center Closures

Apr 10, 2017 - Based on our conversations with recycling experts and officials in other states, recycling center closures have not occurred in other states on the same scale as in California despite similar recycling market conditions.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3649