Framework for Approaching the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Budget [Publication Details]

Feb 26, 2026 - Presented to: Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review No. 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection and Energy
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5136

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

Mar 18, 2026 - Populations of fall ‑run Chinook —the state ’s most abundant salmon run that supports commercial and recreational fishing —have declined by an average of 2  percent annually since 1995. (A “run ” refers to the season in which the majority of adults return from the ocean to spawn.)
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5163

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

Feb 24, 2026 - In large part due to this cost differential, currently only a small share —less than 2   percent —of aviation fuel used in the United States is SAF. SAF Production Occurs Alongside Other Renewable Fuels.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5139

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

Feb 17, 2026 - (We refer to these as “environmental positions. ”) By contrast, as shown in Figure  2, environmental positions comprised a majority of the residual positions reviewed by the Legislature (565 of 1,009) and of the positions the Legislature did not agree to eliminate (349 of 650).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5124

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

Mar 19, 2026 - The 2026-27 Budget: Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation Proposals Governor ’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation Proposals Summary The Governor ’s 2026-27 budget proposes two categories of General Fund budget augmentations for the Governor ’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI): (1)  ongoing support for administrative and policy activities and (2)  temporary and ongoing funding for statutorily required activities.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5167

The 2026-27 Budget: Proposition 4 Spending Plan

Feb 10, 2026 - This amount was approved via three different 2025 budget actions: (1) $181  million provided through Chapter  2 of 2025 (A B  100 , Gabriel) (these funds were available for departments to spend during the final few months of 2024 ‑25), (2) $2.9  million through Chapter  5 of 2025 (A B  102 , Gabriel), and (3) $3.3  billion through Chapter  104 of 2025 (S B  105 , Wiener).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5115

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

Feb 10, 2026 - DOF indicates that its proposed budget trailer legislation clarifies its interpretation of the intent of SB 840 related to (1) the funds subject to the SB 840 methodology and (2) the treatment of state operations costs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5114

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

Feb 10, 2026 - We recommend the Legislature (1)  assess whether these additional activities are consistent with legislative intent, as well as whether they are high priorities for funding given the state ’s serious budget challenges and (2)  make corresponding changes to the level of staffing and funding provided, as relevant.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5120

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

Mar 2, 2026 - To that end, the 2024-25 budget package included language requiring SWRCB to submit a report to the Legislature by January 2026 on (1)  the impacts of the Sackett decision on workload, permitting, and enforcement processes; (2)  the nature of any legal challenges to state regulatory authority; and (3)  any regulatory limitations it was experiencing under current statute.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5144

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

Feb 24, 2026 - As we discuss in our December 2018 report, Assessing California’s Climate Policies—Transportation , such challenges can include (1) program interactions that can affect cost‑effectiveness, (2) difficulty evaluating programs,(3) potential lack of program coordination, and (4) increased administrative costs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5140