The 2026-27 Budget: Child Welfare

Mar 3, 2026 - The 2024-25 spending plan amended and added substantial new statutory language establishing the permanent rate structure —referred to as the Tiered Rate Structure —and extending the duration of the interim rate period until permanent rates can be implemented (Chapter  46 of 2024 [AB  161, Committee on Budget]).
https://lao.ca.gov/publications/report/5147

The 2026-27 Budget: County Administration and H.R. 1 Implementation

Mar 5, 2026 - What has been the state ’s recent record of compliance with the Medicaid payment error rate requirements? What steps is DHCS taking to reduce the Medi ‑Cal payment error rate in advance of H.R.  1 changes?
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5149

The 2026-27 Budget: In-Home Supportive Services

Mar 18, 2026 - Despite slower caseload growth between 2016 ‑17 and 2020 ‑21 (the caseload continued to grow during this period, just at a slower than usual rate). As seen in Figure  4, the IHSS caseload growth rate has since grown at historic rates —reaching a growth rate of 10.3  percent in 2024 ‑25.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5166

The 2026-27 Budget: Food Assistance Programs

Feb 18, 2026 - California ’s most recent payment error rate, for federal fiscal year 2023-24, is about 11  percent. (The comparable national error rate is similarly about 11  percent.) Payment error rates in California and nationally have risen in recent years, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5126

Implementing California’s Child Welfare Prevention Services Program

Jan 28, 2026 - Promising At least one study must achieve a rating of moderate or high on study design and execution. At least one study must demonstrate a favorable effect on a target outcome. Does not meet criteria Programs that do not meet any of the other rating thresholds upon review of all studies are rated as not currently meeting criteria.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5106

The 2026-27 Budget: Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP) Program

Mar 3, 2026 - The SSI/SSP caseload grew at a rate of less than 1  percent each year between 2011-12 and 2014-15. Beginning in 2015-16, however, SSI/SSP caseload began to decline slowly at an average rate of 1.7  percent each year.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5148