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

Mar 18, 2026 - Because the VAs are designed to adapt as new information becomes available —and the board retains authority to terminate the VAs for some or all water users if they are not working as intended —performance will require ongoing evaluation.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5163

The 2026-27 Budget: Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation Proposals

Mar 19, 2026 - As LCI was established under the Office of the Governor, its staff were initially designated as exempt or appointed employees. In 2023, the Legislature approved the administration ’s request to transition most of the office ’s employees to traditional civil service status, which required standardization of various processes such as hiring and employee classifications.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5167

The 2026-27 Budget: Proposition 4 Spending Plan

Feb 10, 2026 - Introduction In July 2024, the Legislature approved Chapter  83 (S B  867 , Allen), authorizing a $10  billion bond measure entitled the “Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024. ” Largely designed to increase the state ’s resilience to the impacts of climate change, the measure was placed on the statewide ballot as Proposition  4 and subsequently approved by voters in November 2024.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5115

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

Feb 17, 2026 - Moreover, the fees used to pay for many of these positions were designed specifically to support the regulation and mitigation of industry ’s environmental impacts. Through JLBC, the Legislature already expressed its preference for maintaining these positions and doing so would not have an impact on the General Fund condition.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5124

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

Feb 10, 2026 - For example, if the Legislature would like households to receive fixed credits in specific, designated summer months, it could clari fy that guidance. Alternatively, if the Legislature would prefer a different approach —such as larger credits for low-income customers or credits that are provided volumetrically —it could specify that alternative intent in statute.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5120

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

Feb 24, 2026 - Even without key program design information such as the incentive amounts or number of incentives that will be provided, the total amount of funding proposed makes it clear that the scope of the program is likely to be relatively modest and short term.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5140

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

The 2026-27 Budget: Governor’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Tax Credit Proposal

Feb 24, 2026 - At the federal level, RFS is a policy that requires a designated level of renewable fuels to be sold annually in the United States. Refiners and importers must either sell their share of the required volumes themselves or buy credits (known as Renewable Identification Numbers or RINs) from other producers that generate an excess of credits.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5139

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