The 2017-18 Budget: Resources and Environmental Protection

Feb 15, 2017 - In this report, we assess many of the Governor's 2017-18 budget proposals in the resources and environmental protection areas and recommend various changes. We provide a complete listing of our recommendations at the end of this report.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3558

Key Differences Between Recent Medical Cannabis Laws and Proposition 64: A Preliminary Review

Dec 20, 2016 - Prior to passage of Proposition  64, it was generally illegal to grow, possess, or use cannabis for nonmedical purposes. Proposition  64 Statutory Framework Mirrors MCRSA in Some Areas . . . Proposition  64 creates a statutory framework to regulate nonmedical cannabis.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3517

Summary of Major 2022 Climate and Energy Legislation

Jan 6, 2023 - Of the Californians who live within a mile of a well, 92  percent are people of color. This aligns with the aforementioned historic patterns of communities that are made up of higher proportions of lower-income and people of color being overburdened by fossil fuel production.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4660

The 2021-22 Budget: Department of Toxic Substances Control

Mar 19, 2021 - Brownfields Have Disproportionate Impact on Low ‑Income Communities of Color . Studies have shown that brownfield sites are disproportionately located in neighborhoods that have lower average incomes and more people of color.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4406

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

Feb 17, 2026 - For example, at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), positions include game wardens who prov ide important law enforcement and wildlife and resource protection services. Some CDFW positions also administer various permits, a key function to ensure that projects —from habitat restoration to infrastructure and housing development —can be completed with less damage to the environment.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5124

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

Mar 2, 2026 - In addition to staffing support, the budget provided $1.1  million (also from the Waste Discharge Permit Fund) in one-time contracting funds for SWRCB to begin design of an electronic application and information technology management system to support this work.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5144

Residential Water Use Trends and Implications for Conservation Policy

Mar 8, 2017 - By comparison, during the cooler and wetter months of January through March of 2016, average per capita water use was only 64 gallons per person per day. Water Use Higher in Last Half of 2016 Compared to 2015 . . .
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3611

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

Feb 10, 2026 - Adequate staffing for the museum will allow it to open to the public on time and with the appropriate maintenance, especially as the number of visitors to Expo Park increases in advance of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5116

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

Oct 16, 2025 - 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

The 2023-24 Budget: CalRecycle’s Zero Waste Plan Proposal

Feb 28, 2023 - This law expands the existing Covered Electronic Waste Program —which uses consumer fees to support the proper collection and recycling of certain electronic devices —to include most battery ‑embedded products, such as cell phones.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4719