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

Feb 10, 2026 - Very High Bar for Approving New Proposals Under Current Budget Conditions. We also believe the Legislature should apply a very high bar to its review of new spending proposals, whether from the General Fund or GGRF.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5114

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

Feb 10, 2026 - The budget proposes $70  million in both 2026 ‑27 and 2027 ‑28 —$20  million from the Lead ‑Acid Battery Cleanup Fund and $50  million from the General Fund as a loan to the Toxic Substances Control Account (TSCA) —to support DTSC in cleaning up additional residential properties impacted by lead ‑contaminated soil linked to the former Exide facility in the City of Vernon.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5116

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

Feb 24, 2026 - Assessment Proposals Funded by GGRF and APCF Should Meet High Bar for Approval. In light of the state ’s budget condition —and as we discuss in greater detail in our recent publication, The 2026‑27 Budget: Framework for Approaching the Natural Resources, Environmental Protection, and Agriculture Budget —we recommend the Legislature apply a high bar to its review
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5140

The 2026-27 Budget: California Highway Patrol Proposals

Mar 6, 2026 - Assessment Concerning MVA Condition Raises the Bar for Approving New Spending. Despite the MVA ’s projected near-term stable condition, the account ’s surplus margins remain slim and the administration estimates it will become insolvent in 2028-29.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5152

The 2026-27 Budget: Judicial Branch

Feb 11, 2026 - As such, any proposals that require new General Fund support require greater scrutiny and must meet a higher bar for approval as it would reduce General Fund spending elsewhere. Such a higher bar can include spending to address critical infrastructure issues.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5113

The 2026-27 Budget: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Feb 23, 2026 - Assessment Some of Proposed Funding Is Reasonable … As discussed in the “General Fund Condition ” section of this brief, proposals that require new General Fund support must meet a higher bar for approval as they necessitate reduced General Fund spending elsewhere.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5137

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

Feb 10, 2026 - In light of the state ’s budget condition —and as we discuss in greater detail in our recent publication, The 2026-27 Budget: Framework for Approaching the Natural Resources, Environmental Protection, and Agriculture Budget —we recommend the Legislature apply a very high bar to its review of new proposals.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5120

The 2026-27 Budget: California Community Colleges

Mar 5, 2026 - Under SCFF, districts receive apportionment funding for regular credit courses based on three components: (1)  a base allocation linked to  enrollment, (2)  a supplemental allocation linked to low ‑income student counts, and (3)  a student success allocation linked to specified student outcomes.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5150

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

Mar 5, 2026 - Without a methodology that links funding to workload, funding could become insufficient or exceed what is required for efficient operations without a clear way of assessing what adjustments are needed.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5149

The 2026-27 Budget: Medi-Cal Analysis

Mar 2, 2026 - Under the administration ’s proposal, newly UIS adults such as refugees, asylees, and battered noncitizens would be shifted to restricted ‑scope Medi ‑Cal coverage, while other UIS adults such as undocumented individuals and some with interim or pending statuses would continue to qualify for full ‑scope Medi ‑Cal coverage (barring the enrollment freeze for new undocumented individuals).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5146