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

Feb 17, 2026 - The final budget agreement instead eliminated fewer positions (4,994) and provided the Legislature additional time to review 1,009 additional positions which we refer to as “residual: ” (1)  those associated with implementing legislation chaptered in 2022 and 2023 across numerous departments, and (2)  all of those in nine specified departments which we highlight in Figure  1.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5124

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

Feb 24, 2026 - Finally, we have concerns that the creation of a new program adds complexity and potential duplication. In light of these factors and the constrained state budget condition, we recommend the Legislature reject the proposal.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5140

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

Mar 18, 2026 - The protracted time line reflects the complexity of balancing multiple — often competing —goals , ongoing and potential legal challenges, and the board ’s willingness to allow time for development of a VA proposal.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5163

The 2026-27 Budget: Proposition 4 Spending Plan

Feb 10, 2026 - We have not identified any proposed actions or appropriations that conflict with bond requirements, and the timing of the funding allocations generally seems to account for and align with what we know about department capacity and local demand.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5115

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

Mar 2, 2026 - The final budget agreement instead approved only the 26 positions beginning in 2024-25, and the Legislature indicated it desired more information about how specifically the water boards ’ workload would change before approving such a large number of ongoing positions and resources.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5144

The 2026-27 Budget: Framework for Approaching the Natural Resources, Environmental Protection, and Agriculture Budget

Feb 10, 2026 - Finally, after it has identified what level of funding its budget can support, we suggest the Legislature think about revisiting the mix of how those resources are dedicated to prioritize the most important activities.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5116

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

Feb 10, 2026 - The Legislature may want to learn more about potential consequences that could ensue from the administration’s proposal to not fund these planned amounts and consider them as it develops its final GGRF spending package.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5114

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

Mar 19, 2026 - If it needs to provide less funding, the Legislature could also consider revisiting LCI ’s statutory requirements, time lines, and associated resource needs —for example, by reducing expectations around how the office should implement the CalHeatScore extreme heat ranking.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5167

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

Feb 10, 2026 - Given that the exact level of ongoing resources that will be required is uncertain until the work is underway, supporting whatever activities the Legislature elects to fund on a limited-term basis would allow for time to ascertain what level of ongoing support might be needed in the future.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5120

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

Feb 24, 2026 - However, given the existing ample availability of other, likely more cost ‑effective GHG ‑reduction programs and policies, such a costly focus on the aviation sector is not compelling to us at this time.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5139