The 2026-27 Budget: Child Care and State Preschool

Mar 19, 2026 - As part of the 2021‑22 budget package, the Legislature and Governor agreed to add 206,800 non‑CalWORKs child care slots over a multiyear period. To date, the state has funded 129,800 additional slots—a 113.8 percent increase in non‑CalWORKs slots compared to 2020‑21 levels.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5168

The 2026-27 Budget: K-12 Proposals

Feb 19, 2026 - Frees Up Current Funding for Extension Grants. Trailer legislation proposes to free up the $485  million allocated in prior budgets that is set aside for the two ‑year extension grants. Current community schools grantees would no longer be required to submit requests for extensions.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5131

The 2026-27 Budget: Re-Envisioning State Education Governance

Mar 18, 2026 - This  shift would free up the SBE to focus on broader policy issues while making state administrative functions more efficient. Considering Adding Legislative Appointees to the SBE. The Legislature could consider adding two legislative appointees to the SBE.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5165

The 2026-27 Budget: Contract to Achieve Operational Efficiencies

Mar 10, 2026 - However, the administration indicates that the work could have other benefits, such as improving the quality of health care or reducing unnecessarily bureaucratic processes, thereby freeing up staff time to address other workload.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5156

Implementing California’s Child Welfare Prevention Services Program

Jan 28, 2026 - The two departments plan to provide additional guidance on model fidelity standards for the EBPs, Title IV‑E prevention services that intersect with Medi‑Cal services, and a model joint written protocol related to payor of last resort.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5106

The 2026-27 Budget: Department of Developmental Services

Mar 13, 2026 - Specifically, statute provides that the fully funded provider rate models are to be implemented using two payment components: a base rate equaling 90   percent of the rate model and a quality incentive payment equaling up to 10   percent of the rate model, the latter of which is to be implemented through the quality incentive program.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5157

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

Feb 10, 2026 - These free allowances are intended to protect electric consumers from significant cost increases associated with the program. To that end, utilities are required to consign most of these free allowances to auction and use the proceeds to provide rebates to consumer s, known as the “California Climate Credit. ” These rebates currently are provided to residential customers each year in April and October.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5120

The 2026-27 Budget: Office of Emergency Services Next Generation 911 System

Feb 27, 2026 - In November 2025, OES released a revised transition plan shifting from the regional model to a statewide approach with one primary and one back ‑up provider. OES now projects decommissioning the legacy system in 2030 —eight years later than previously planned under the regional model.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5145

Assessing a Shift to Enrollment-Based School Funding

Jan 6, 2026 - Below, we describe a few options the state could take to improve attendance under an enrollment ‑based funding model. Require Schools Take Specific Actions to Support Students Who Are at Risk of Being Chronically Absent.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5100

The 2026-27 Budget: In-Home Supportive Services

Mar 18, 2026 - In the early 2010s, this share of cost model was replaced with an IHSS MOE. Under the MOE, county costs are adjusted annually by a fixed growth factor and a portion of locally negotiated wage increases.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5166