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

Mar 18, 2026 - While the Delta Plan does not directly govern water allocation, it regulates activities that significantly affect water use, ecosystem health, and certain infrastructure projects in the Delta. For example, relevant projects—such as levee improvements or habitat restoration projects—must demonstrate consistency with the Delta Plan before they can proceed.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5163

The 2026-27 Budget: Permitting Support at the State Water Resources Control Board [Publication Details]

Mar 2, 2026 - The 2026-27 Budget: Permitting Support at the State Water Resources Control Board [Publication Details] Translate Our Website This Google ™ translation feature provided on the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) website is for informational purposes only.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5144

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

Feb 10, 2026 - Environmental Protection Agency ) narrowed federal Clean Water Act protections, thereby indirectly shifting regulatory responsibilities for certain bodies of water to the state under state law. The additional funding and positions would allow the board to issue and enforce permits protecting water quality and public health —including limiting the
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5116

The Bay-Delta Plan and Voluntary Agreements: Ensuring Effective Legislative Oversight [Publication Details]

Mar 18, 2026 - This report discusses the State Water Resources Control Board’s (SWRCB’s) proposed—and long-overdue—update of the water quality control plan for the San Francisco Bay-Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, which includes an alternative compliance pathway for certain water users called voluntary agreements (VAs, also known as Healthy Rivers and Landscapes).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5163

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

Feb 10, 2026 - This report provides a framework to help the Legislature approach funding environment-related programs within the context of the state's budget challenges.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5116

The 2026-27 Budget: Proposition 4 Spending Plan

Feb 10, 2026 - In subsequent sections, we walk through how the Governor proposes to allocate and implement funding within the bond ’s eight spending categories, which are: Safe Drinking Water, Drought, Flood, and Water Resilience.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5115

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

Feb 17, 2026 - At the State Water Resources Control Board, positions include staff who help regulate waste discharge into waters of the state, including drinkin g water sources. Eliminating these positions consequently would come with serious trade-offs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5124

The 2026-27 Budget: Proposition 4 Spending Plan [Publication Details]

Feb 10, 2026 - This publication assesses the Governor’s proposed 2026-27 spending plan for Proposition 4, the $10 billion climate bond approved by voters in November 2024.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5115

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

Feb 24, 2026 - For example, the administration estimates that the majority of the $72  million left in the regional CC4A program as of January 2026 will be exhausted before the end of 2026 ‑27. The administration has not yet determined the extent to which this new proposed program could be used in combination with other existing programs (sometimes referred to as “stacking ”).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5140