Updating the California Necessities Index

Aug 14, 2025 - Recent changes were made to the publication of statistics required to calculate the California Necessities Index, which is used to adjust certain benefit rates and cost-of-living adjustments. In this brief, we provide details on the changes and evaluate alternatives for the index that require only currently available data and conform to the original intent of the index.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5065

Updating the California Necessities Index [Publication Details]

Aug 14, 2025 - Recent changes were made to the publication of statistics required to calculate the California Necessities Index, which is used to adjust certain benefit rates and cost-of-living adjustments. In this brief, we provide details on the changes and evaluate alternatives for the index that require only currently available data and conform to the original intent of the index.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5065

The 2022-23 Budget: Supply Chain and Port Infrastructure Proposals

Feb 15, 2022 - Short ‑Term vs. Long ‑Term Strategies. The  current supply chain disruptions are the result of both short ‑term issues, such as greater consumer demand, as well as long ‑term issues, such as the capacity and resilience of the goods movement system.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4540

Fixing Unemployment Insurance

Dec 2, 2024 - Benefits were last increased in 2004 and have not been adjusted for cost ‑of ‑living increases since, including through the recent period of historically high inflation. The Legislature also has pursued expanding UI coverage to workers who have not typically received benefits, including striking workers, undocumented workers, and independent contractors.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4943

Evaluation of a Tax Exemption for Zero-Emission Buses

Apr 15, 2024 - Innovative Clean Transit (ICT) Regulation Conventional Buses vs. ZEBs. The ZEB exemption, the ICT regulation, and various other policies make a distinction between conventional buses and ZEBs. Conventional buses burn diesel, compressed natural gas, or other fuels that emit greenhouse gases (GHGs) and other air pollutants.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4890

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

Feb 23, 2026 - We recommended that the Licensing Program be funded exclusively through license fees, which is how it is funded today. LAO Recommendations Approach Proposals as Pieces of a Bigger Policy Puzzle. Cannabis and tobacco compliance present an ongoing policy challenge for the Legislature.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5132

Common Claims About Proposition 13 - Introduction to Proposition 13 [Video]

Today, there are many questions about the impacts of these changes. Our report Common Claims About Proposition 13  examines some of these questions and which of them can be answered by the data available.
https://lao.ca.gov/Videos/Player?playlistId=103

California’s Low-Wage Workers and Minimum Wage

Mar 11, 2024 - Most Low-Wage Workers Live With at Least One Other Worker. Compared to mid-to-high-wage workers, low-wage workers are much less likely to live in households with exactly two workers and much more likely to live in households with three or more workers.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4878/1

Common Claims About Proposition 13 - Are Similar Property Owners Taxed Differently Under Proposition 13? [Video]

Today, there are many questions about the impacts of these changes. Our report Common Claims About Proposition 13  examines some of these questions and which of them can be answered by the data available.
https://lao.ca.gov/Videos/Player?playlistId=103&videoId=153

Taxation of Sugary Drinks

Nov 26, 2018 - Key Trade ‑Off: Main Policy Goal vs. Other Health Effects. The potential exclusion of 100  p ercent juice illustrates a general trade ‑off in the design of sugary drink taxes. Some sugary drinks contain beneficial nutrients.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3903