Assessing California’s Climate Policies—Residential Electricity Rates in California

Jan 7, 2025 - Specifically, they still receive bills from their relevant IOU but are charged for the CCA ’s electricity generation costs instead of the IOU ’s generation costs. (They still pay other IOU costs, including for transmission and distribution.)
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4950

The 2025-26 Budget: May Revision Trailer Bill Proposals on the Delta Conveyance Project and Water Quality Control Plans

May 27, 2025 - Below, we raise some issues for the Legislature to consider at a future time when it can more fully evaluate the Governor ’s proposal. (We are still reviewing the proposed language, however, and may refine our assessment as we learn more.)
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5053

Assessing California’s Climate Policies—Cap-and-Trade Reauthorization

May 7, 2025 - Revenues From Allowances Can Support Other Priorities. The Legislature could assess whether the current allocations of allowances and GGRF revenues still are consistent with its most pressing policy goals.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5042

The 2025-26 Budget: Cap-and-Trade Reauthorization and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Proposals at May Revision

May 19, 2025 - Specifically: Key Cost and Plan Information Still Missing. Under existing statute, the High-Speed Rail Authority (HSRA) was supposed to provide a Project Update Report by March  1 including updated cost and schedule information.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5049

Frequently Asked Questions About Wildfires in California

Jan 28, 2025 - Weather, human activities, and location characteristics can all affect both fire ignitions and resulting damage. As of this writing, information was still being collected regarding which specific contributors led to the January 2025 fires in Southern California.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4952

The 2025-26 Budget: Proposition 4 Spending Plan

Feb 12, 2025 - Future Proposition  4 spending is more stable and generally does not face that risk since its language limits how funds can be used (only for the specified climate ‑related and environmental purposes).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4958

The 2025-26 Budget: Various California Air Resources Board Proposals

Feb 24, 2025 - Because whether E15 regulations ultimately will be developed and adopted still is uncertain, we find authorizing ongoing funding for positions to support its implementation now to b e premature. We therefore recommend the Legislature instead provide the requested funding on a two ‑year basis.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4980

The 2025-26 Budget: State Mandate—Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board

May 5, 2025 - Specifically, the state can suspend the mandate for one year, meaning local governments are not required to comply, and the state does not provide funding for related costs. The sta te also can modify the mandate to reduce costs —for example, by easing its requirements or making them optional.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5039

The 2025-26 Budget: Cap-and-Trade Expenditure Plan

Feb 12, 2025 - If Revenue Trends Continue at Modest Decline, Planned Current ‑Year Expenditures Likely Still Feasible … Two auctions remain in the 2024 ‑25 fiscal year —February and May. We estimate that even if allowance prices continue to trail the 2024 ‑25 Budget Act ’s assumptions, if they remain at comparable levels to the past two auctions (roughly $31), GGRF likely will be able to continue to support the expenditures that currently are planned for 2024 ‑25.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4960

The 2025-26 Budget: Natural Resources and Agriculture Discretionary Spending Proposals

Feb 18, 2025 - The California State Parks Library Pass Program provides free access to state parks through 33,000 passes that can be checked out from public library branches throughout the state. Passes can be checked out by all library card holders.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4967