The 2026-27 Budget: California Competes Extension

Mar 18, 2026 - Changes made to the program in 2018 likely explain much of this trend. Specifically, the 2018 budget package: Removed a requirement that 25  percent of credits be reserved for businesses with less than $2  million in annual revenue.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5162

Evaluation of a Tax Exemption for Zero-Emission Buses

Apr 15, 2024 - In 2020, 11  percent of buses entering service for small transit agencies were ZEBs; by 2022, that share had grown to 38  percent. As described in the “Background ” section, the ICT establishes higher ZEB purchase requirements for large transit agencies than for small transit agencies.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4890

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Other Provisions

Oct 16, 2025 - The budget assumes reductions to CDFA ’s budget of $11  million ($9.8  million General Fund) authorized by Control Sections 4.05 and 4.12 of the budget act. This includes $8.2  million ($7  million General Fund) in efficiency reductions and $2.8  million General Fund in vacant position reductions.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5081/

Fixing Unemployment Insurance

Dec 2, 2024 - To  continue paying UI benefits, the state borrowed $11  billion from the federal government. From 2011 through 2018, California businesses paid the federal surcharge to repay the loan principal while the General Fund made a total of $1.4  billion in interest payments.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4943

The 2025-26 Budget: CDTFA’s Tobacco Programs

Feb 14, 2025 - In 2018-19, the tax program had 75.6 filled positions, and the licensing program had 64.3 filled positions. In 2023-24, these programs had 53.2 and 41.9 filled positions, respectively. CDTFA has provided two explanations for this decline.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4966

The 2023-24 Budget: California's Film Tax Credit

Feb 28, 2023 - Tax and economic development lessons from state motion picture incentive programs. ” The American Review of Public Administration 48.1 (2018): 33 ‑51. Thom, Michael. “Time to yell “cut? ” An evaluation of the California Film and Production Tax Credit for the motion picture industry. ” California Journal of Politics and Policy 10.1 (2018).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4713

The 2025-26 Budget: Update on Implementation of New Firearm and Ammunition Tax

Feb 19, 2025 - Specifically, an 11  percent tax is applied to the gross retail sales of firearms, firearm precursor parts, and ammunition. Retail sales to law enforcement agencies and active or retired peace officers, as well as those that total less than $5,000 per quarter, are exempt from this tax.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4970

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

Mar 18, 2025 - From 2015-2018, according to a rigorous third-party evaluation , LA:RISE participants had higher earnings and employment while working at an ESE but did not see long-term benefits after the transitional job ended.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5018

The 2023-24 Budget: Multiyear Budget Outlook

May 23, 2023 - While the May Revision makes several billion dollars in spending reductions, it maintains $11  billion in one ‑time and temporary spending in 2023 ‑24. We recommend this spending be reduced further (from $11  billion to roughly $4  billion) and out ‑year one ‑time and temporary spending be eliminated entirely, as explained further below.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4772

The 2024-25 Budget: Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development

Feb 20, 2024 - ISRF loans have exceeded $60  million multiple times in recent years ($95  million in 2018-19 and $86  million in 2022-23), which points to a need for additional cash, perhaps around $50  million, should they wish to avoid turning away eligible borrowers in 2024-25.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4846