The 2026-27 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget

Jan 12, 2026 - Ongoing, the Governor ’s spending ‑related solutions provide $5  billion in savings within a few years. Appendix 1 provides a list of the Governor ’s budget solutions. Generates $5.6 Billion School and Community College Settle‑Up Obligation in 2025‑26.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5101

How Have Past Stock Market Downturns Affected Income Tax Revenue? [EconTax Blog]

Mar 9, 2026 - The three minor downturns  (1981, 1987, and 1990) led to income tax declines of less less than 10 percent (average of 5 percent), with revenues recovering quickly. The four major downturns were more severe, with income tax declines ranging from 17 percent to 30 percent (average of 24 percent).
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/852

How Have Past Stock Market Downturns Affected Income Tax Revenue? [EconTax Blog]

Mar 9, 2026 - The three minor downturns  (1981, 1987, and 1990) led to income tax declines of less less than 10 percent (average of 5 percent), with revenues recovering quickly. The four major downturns were more severe, with income tax declines ranging from 17 percent to 30 percent (average of 24 percent).
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/article/Detail/852

The 2026-27 Budget: Proposition 98 Guarantee and K-12 Spending Plan

Feb 4, 2026 - Several signs, however, suggest that the stock market has become overvalued. For example, the ratio of stock prices to corporate earnings (a measure of how expensive stocks are) is near historically high levels ( Figure  5 ).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5110

The 2026-27 Budget: How to Use One-Time Revenue Improvements

Feb 20, 2026 - For example, we recommend the Legislature: Do Not Suspend the $3  Billion True Up Into the Budget Stabilization Account (BSA). The Governor ’s budget proposes suspending a roughly $3  billion true-up deposit that otherwise would be required in 2025-26.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5133

Oversight of certain public benefit artificial intelligence (AI) companies. [Ballot]

Jan 20, 2026 - Such executives may be subject to penalties of up to $10 million per violation. In addition, certain willful misconduct —such as unauthorized expansion of AI capabilities or obstruction of investigations —would be punishable as a felony, with potential imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to $10 million, or an amount equal to twice the financial gains resulting from the misconduct.
https://lao.ca.gov/BallotAnalysis/Initiative/2025-033

California New Car Registrations: January 2026 [EconTax Blog]

Mar 11, 2026 - After growing just 0.3 percent from December to January, registrations are still 5 percent below the average level over the last couple of years. This multi-month slump could be a worrisome sign for California ’s short-term economic trajectory.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/853

California New Car Registrations: January 2026 [EconTax Blog]

Mar 11, 2026 - After growing just 0.3 percent from December to January, registrations are still 5 percent below the average level over the last couple of years. This multi-month slump could be a worrisome sign for California ’s short-term economic trajectory.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/article/Detail/853

The 2026-27 Budget: Proposition 4 Spending Plan

Feb 10, 2026 - The 2025 ‑26 budget package authorized the state to spend $3.5  billion, or slightly more than one ‑third, of the $10  billion total. 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
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5115

Addressing Chronic Vacancies in Prison Mental Health Care

Feb 23, 2026 - We found that (1)  most mental health classifications appear to be relatively well paid compared to the broader market even before recent bonuses, (2)  other non ‑compensation factors appear to influence vacancy rates, (3)  the mental health Receiver plans to reassess whether further changes in pay are necessary, (4)  various other efforts are underway to improve recruitment and
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5134