The 2025-26 Budget: EDDNext

Feb 25, 2025 - Integrated Contact Center This project seeks to modernize the department ’s contact center through (among other improvements) additional self ‑service options, enhanced voice recognition, and multi ‑language functionality.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4985

The 2025-26 Budget: Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development

Mar 18, 2025 - Funding another round of California Competes grants could create jobs at a time when private sector job growth has been sluggish. However, we recommend viewing grants as a supplement to the California Competes tax credit rather than a core part of the program.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5018

The 2025-26 Budget: State Departments’ Operational Efficiencies (Control Sections 4.05 and 4.12)

Feb 19, 2025 - The administration has not committed to a specific date, but we suspect this most likely means that the final report could be included as part of the Governor ’s May Revision proposal. There likely will be insufficient time for the subcommittees to discuss each identified saving with departments between May 14 (when the May Revision is released) and June 15 (when the Legislature approves a budget).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4975

The 2025-26 Budget: Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement

Mar 11, 2025 - Applicants must also meet one of the following conditions: (1)  qualify for a Pell Grant, Cal Grant, or Middle Class Scholarship (MCS); (2)  need to work part time to cover education costs; or (3)  have borrowed student loans.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5015

The 2025-26 Budget: CDTFA’s Tobacco Programs

Feb 14, 2025 - To the extent that tax avoidance could be a large part of the story, the size of the revenue loss highlights the importance of efforts to enforce tobacco tax laws. CDTFA ’s Enforcement Activities Spending on CDTFA ’s Tobacco Programs Has Declined.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4966

Improving Legislative Oversight of Emergency Authorities

Apr 10, 2025 - Redirecting state employees —also during the COVID ‑19 pandemic —to “contact tracing ” activities, which involves conducting case investigations and notifying people who may have been exposed to the virus of the need to  quarantine.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5029

The 2025-26 Budget: The California State Payroll System IT Project

Mar 7, 2025 - Only one out of six roles on a DART —the liaison, which is CSPS ’s single point of contact with the department for change management efforts —requires a department staff ’s full-time commitment. The remaining five roles —the reporting coordinator, scope/capability subject matter experts, sponsor, technical coordinator, and training coordinator —require partial
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5011

The 2025-26 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget

Jan 13, 2025 - The  administration appears to share some of these concerns, noting recent job losses among high ‑wage workers and the risks posed by the inherent volatility of tax receipts tied to stock market gains.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4951

The 2025-26 Budget: Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Reorganization

Feb 25, 2025 - In addition, the administration indicates that HCD potentially could be restructured as part of a reorganization process, with more information to be included in the reorganization plan. Administration Indicates Reorganization Will Improve State ’s Focus on Key Issues.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4987

The 2025-26 Budget: Department of Financial Protection and Innovation

Apr 3, 2025 - The independent assessment of DFPI ’s financial condition identified annual salary adjustments (agency-wide) and start-up costs for new programs as the main sources of increased expenditures at DFPI.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5025