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

Mar 2, 2026 - However, when issued by the state water board (rather than a regional board), these plans are limited to WOTUS. As such, under current state law, to protect non-WOTUS, each regional board must revise their regional plans to match the statewide plan.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5144

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

Feb 24, 2026 - California has two regions with the most critical air quality challenges in the nation —the South Coast Air Basin and the San Joaquin Valley. The regions need to make substantial reductions in criteria pollutants from all sources —specifically , nitrous oxides (NOx) and fine particulate matter —to meet federal air quality standards.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5140

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

Mar 18, 2026 - SWRCB (rather than a regional board) manages the Bay ‑Delta Plan because the watershed spans multiple regions and sets flow requirements. Regulating flows often affects water rights, which only the state board has the authority to manage.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5163