The 2026-27 Budget: Re-Envisioning State Education Governance

Mar 18, 2026 - A Few Core Principles Could Guide Changes to the SPI ’s Role. The Governor ’s proposal is an opportunity for the Legislature to consider many changes to the SPI ’s role and duties. The previous governance studies and the state ’s experience with its current governance structure contain several lessons that could guide a redesign of the position.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5165

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

Mar 18, 2026 - The last comprehensive update occurred in 1995 and largely guides management today. (The 1995  update concerned the entire Bay ‑Delta watershed and included substantive changes to water quality objectives for fish and wildlife beneficial uses.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5163

The 2026-27 Budget: Community College Facilities

Mar 17, 2026 - Having clear standards in evaluating projects can help guide the Legislature in identifying which projects have the strongest justification. The scoring system also places highest priority on life safety projects, with requirements in place to ensure that districts submit only immediate needs under this category.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5159

The 2026-27 Budget: Department of Developmental Services

Mar 13, 2026 - The Lanterman Act has served as the foundational policy of the DDS system and has long guided legislative decision ‑making. The act outlines duties for DDS and establishes that the state “accepts a responsibility for persons with developmental disabilities and an obligation to them which it must discharge. ” It also gives people with developmental disabilities the right to receive services and supports to help achieve their goals.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5157

The 2026-27 Budget: Proposition 4 Spending Plan

Feb 10, 2026 - The bond measure includes a number of requirements to guide how funds are administered and overseen by about 30 different state agencies, departments, boards, commissions, conservancies, and offices.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5115

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

Feb 10, 2026 - Given the high stakes involved, it will be important for the Legislature to consider whether it is comfortable with deferring decisions on the structure of the credi ts to CPUC, as is envisioned in this proposal, or whether it would like to provide CPUC with further statutory direction to guide its approach.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5120

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

Feb 10, 2026 - It could also include memorializing in statute the Legislature’s preferred guiding principles for which types of activities the administration should include as GGRF state operations proposals going forward, as those activities would receive first priority for funding and thus can crowd out other GGRF‑funded programs and activities.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5114

Implementing California’s Child Welfare Prevention Services Program

Jan 28, 2026 - Some counties have hired their own contractors to help formulate their CPPs and guide implementation efforts. Other counties, however, are not able to do so. In particular for this latter group, counties expressed needing more in ‑depth and individualized technical assistance from the state.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5106

Special taxes. [Ballot]

Jan 27, 2026 - If the init iative qualifies for the ballot, the measure would require this executive summary to be included in the Voter Information Guide (VIG) produced by the Secretary of State . If approved by the voters, the measure would require the State Auditor to be reimbursed from the revenues generated by the special tax.
https://lao.ca.gov/BallotAnalysis/Initiative/2025-040

Time limits, environmental reviews, and judicial reviews for certain types of infrastructure projects. [Ballot]

Dec 10, 2025 - (General plans and zoning rules —which require approval by local elected officials —guide land use planning and development at the local level.) Currently, application completeness time limits are in statute in the PSA (not in CEQA), and they do not apply to proj ects requiring general plan or zoning changes.
https://lao.ca.gov/BallotAnalysis/Initiative/2025-023