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

Updating the California Necessities Index [Publication Details]

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/Detail/5065

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

Mar 9, 2026 - Focus Here on Major Downturns Because Short-Lived Corrections Usually Have Little Impact on Revenues. Smaller, short-lived corrections occur frequently, among them the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the 2011 U.S. debt celing standoff, the 2015 Chinese growth slowdown, the early pandemic drop in 2020, and the 2025 tariff selloff.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/852

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

Mar 9, 2026 - Focus Here on Major Downturns Because Short-Lived Corrections Usually Have Little Impact on Revenues. Smaller, short-lived corrections occur frequently, among them the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the 2011 U.S. debt celing standoff, the 2015 Chinese growth slowdown, the early pandemic drop in 2020, and the 2025 tariff selloff.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/article/Detail/852

The 2026-27 Budget: Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP) Program

Mar 3, 2026 - Federal Government Required to Provide Annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) to SSI Grants … The federal government is required to provide an annual COLA each January to the SSI portion of the grant.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5148

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

Jan 24, 2024 - Our post provides an updated snapshot of housing affordability in California. Over the last few years, we have seen a rapid increase in California housing costs, led by the dramatic increase in the costs of purchasing a home. Despite no significant growth in housing prices since 2024, monthly costs for a newly purchased home are about $2,400 higher than they were just a few years ago.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/793

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

Jan 24, 2024 - Our post provides an updated snapshot of housing affordability in California. Over the last few years, we have seen a rapid increase in California housing costs, led by the dramatic increase in the costs of purchasing a home. Despite no significant growth in housing prices since 2024, monthly costs for a newly purchased home are about $2,400 higher than they were just a few years ago.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/article/Detail/793

Cal Grant Award Amounts [EdBudget]

Feb 3, 2026 - See "Cal Grant Award Coverage" for a description of each award. a Access awards generally may cover any living cost, including housing, food, transportation, books, and supplies. Cal Grant C awards for students attending private career technical schools may cover only books, supplies, and equipment.
https://lao.ca.gov/Education/EdBudget/Details/1080

Property tax rules for inherited property. [Ballot]

Jan 21, 2026 - Beginning in 2027, the measure would allow age-eligi ble homeowners to request an exemption from their county assessor if they have lived in the home for five years or lived in the state for ten years.
https://lao.ca.gov/BallotAnalysis/Initiative/2025-035

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

Feb 23, 2026 - If people in other states were allowed to provide tele ‑mental health services in California prisons, the state might be able to attract qualified candidates living in lower ‑cost ‑of ‑living areas with higher pay, while still allowing them to maintain their residency in other states.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5137