The 2022-23 Budget: Pesticide Enforcement

May 5, 2022 - However, the department indicates that there have been situations where the same violators have been levied penalties on multiple occasions for pesticide drift and worker protection violations, which could indicate that current penalty levels do not fully compel compliance.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4592

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

Feb 17, 2026 - However, in many cases, the residual positions in question supported by special funds do not have a direct impact on the General Fund and thus do not factor directly into efforts to balance the budget.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5124

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

Mar 2, 2026 - That is, activities regulated under either federal or state authorities still would have to comply with the water quality standards in state and regional water quality control plans, just as they do now.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5144

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

Feb 10, 2026 - Through the earthquake monitoring network, the state keeps the earthquake early warning system operational and identifies weaknesses in critical infrastructure, which also helps inform building design and codes.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5116

The 2024-25 Budget: Flood Management Proposals

Feb 26, 2024 - The  three projects are located in economically disadvantaged areas that likely do not have sufficient local revenues (such as from property assessments) to be able to pursue this work without state assistance.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4856

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

Feb 24, 2026 - However, doing so likely would require a much larger and/or longer ‑term investment than what the Governor is proposing (or what the state realistically could provide, given its budget limitations). Proposal Could Result in Program Duplication.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5140

Evaluating California's Pursuit of Zero Net Energy State Buildings

Nov 14, 2017 - We note there sometimes are “market failures ” —where decision makers do not have the appropriate incentives or information. In these cases, specific mandates could be helpful in achieving cost ‑efficient emission reductions.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3711

The 2026-27 Budget: Cap-and-Invest Expenditure Plan

Feb 10, 2026 - A key question for the Legislature is whether it is comfortable that the proposed statutory modifications do indeed reflect its intent, as they have important implications for which programs receive funding under this new structure.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5114

The 2025-26 Budget: Various California Air Resources Board Proposals

Feb 24, 2025 - We have two significant concerns with the administration ’s proposal. First , we do not believe that CARB has provided a compelling rationale for why it needs such broad fee authority to pursue the state’s climate and air quality goals.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4980

The 2025-26 Budget: May Revision Trailer Bill Proposals on the Delta Conveyance Project and Water Quality Control Plans

May 27, 2025 - These policy issues do not have budget implications. Deferring action would allow the Legislature more time and capacity for sufficient consideration of the potential benefits, implications, and trade-offs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5053