Updating the California Necessities Index [Publication Details]

Aug 14, 2025 - Updating the California Necessities Index [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/5065

Updating the California Necessities Index

Aug 14, 2025 - Recent changes were made to the publication of statistics required to calculate the California Necessities Index, which is used to adjust certain benefit rates and cost-of-living adjustments. In this brief, we provide details on the changes and evaluate alternatives for the index that require only currently available data and conform to the original intent of the index.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5065

California Housing Affordability Tracker (4th Quarter 2025) [EconTax Blog]

Jan 24, 2024 - For example, if a homeowner with a mortgage rate of 5 percent sold their home and bought a new similarly-priced home at current interest rates, they would have monthly payments approximately 11 percent higher.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/793

California Housing Affordability Tracker (4th Quarter 2025) [EconTax Blog]

Jan 24, 2024 - For example, if a homeowner with a mortgage rate of 5 percent sold their home and bought a new similarly-priced home at current interest rates, they would have monthly payments approximately 11 percent higher.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/article/Detail/793

New tax on the wealth of billionaires. [Ballot]

Dec 11, 2025 - Billionaires living in California on January 1, 2026 would have to pay a one-time state tax equal to 5  percent of their net worth. The tax would be due in 2027. Taxpayers would have the option to spread the payments over five years, but would have to pay more to do so.
https://lao.ca.gov/BallotAnalysis/Initiative/2025-024

Proposition 50 [Ballot]

Nov 4, 2025 - The number of people living in an area goes up and down over time. Every ten years, the U.S. Census counts the number of people who live in the U.S. The last census was in 2020, and the next census is in 2030.
https://lao.ca.gov/BallotAnalysis/Proposition?number=50&year=2025

How Have Past Stock Market Downturns Affected Income Tax Revenue? [EconTax Blog]

Mar 9, 2026 - Income Taxes Tend to Lag Major Market Turns by Up to a Year. State income tax growth typically lags stock market turning points by six to twelve months. Before past downturns, taxes have generally grown briskly, often due to the same stock market run-ups that preeceded the downturn.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/852

How Have Past Stock Market Downturns Affected Income Tax Revenue? [EconTax Blog]

Mar 9, 2026 - Income Taxes Tend to Lag Major Market Turns by Up to a Year. State income tax growth typically lags stock market turning points by six to twelve months. Before past downturns, taxes have generally grown briskly, often due to the same stock market run-ups that preeceded the downturn.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/article/Detail/852

Proposition 33 [Ballot]

Nov 5, 2024 - In addition to local rent control laws, a state law prevents most landlords from increasing a tenant ’s rent by more than 5  percent plus inflation (up to a total of 10  percent) in a year. This law lasts until 2030.
https://lao.ca.gov/BallotAnalysis/Proposition?number=33&year=2024

The 2021-22 Spending Plan: Human Services

Nov 22, 2021 - Bonus Pay for Bilingual Service Provider Staff. The spending plan provides $2.2  million General Fund in 2021 ‑22, $4.3  million General Fund in 2022 ‑23, and $6.5  million General Fund in 2023 ‑24 and ongoing to support wage bonuses for DSPs who are bilingual —including in American Sign Language —and can support the estimated 90,000 consumers who speak a primary language other than English.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4476/1