California’s Cap-and-Trade Program: Frequently Asked Questions

Oct 24, 2023 - Figure  2 provides an illustration of these options. CARB issues a set number of allowances each year equal to the annual cap that entities can purchase and sell on an open market —this is the “trade ” component of the program.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4811

Assessing California's Climate Policies—The 2022 Scoping Plan Update

Jan 4, 2023 - As  we described in our 2017 report, Cap‑and‑Trade: Issues for Legislative Oversight , the program allows unlimited banking of allowances from earlier years, which can then be used to comply with more strict caps in later years.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4656

New Infrastructure Legislation: Summary and Issues for Legislative Oversight

Aug 8, 2023 - Green Bank Financing. Chapter  53 of 2023 (SB  124, Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) authorizes the Infrastructure and Economic Development  Bank (I-Bank) to spend future federal funding that the state might receive through the Climate Catalyst Revolving Loan Fund program.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4785

Assessing Early Implementation of Urban Water Use Efficiency Requirements

Jan 4, 2024 - Suppliers might consider ways to increase supplies through banking groundwater, expanding surface storage, building desalination facilities, or importing additional water. (Due to the  significant associated cost and/or geographical or practical limitations, expanding surface storage and increasing ocean desalination are options only for certain  suppliers.)
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4823

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

Feb 10, 2026 - Reject Proposals That Fail to Meet This High Bar Consider Modifying Proposals to Reduce Pressure on the General Fund Explore options for alternative funding sources. Consider funding priority proposals at a lower level.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5116

The 2026-27 Budget: Permitting Support at the State Water Resources Control Board

Mar 2, 2026 - Rather, these amendments could potentially increase permitting efficiency, reduce water boards ’ workload, and provide water boards with more robust enforcement options. Still, such statutory amendments would have some trade-offs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5144

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Other Provisions

Oct 16, 2025 - The budget package removes both (1)  savings and loans, and (2)  banking or financial business from the list of QBA from tax year 2025 onwards. The administration estimates this change will increase revenues by $330  million in fiscal year 2025-26, decreasing slightly to $270  million by 2028-29.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5081/

Adoption of April 2021 Wildfire and Forest Resilience Early Action Package

Apr 16, 2021 - Figure 1 Wildfire and Forest Resilience Early Action Package for 2020 ‑21 (In Millions) Project implementation in high ‑risk areas SNC Stewardship of state ‑owned land CDFW Stewardship of state ‑owned land Parks Stewardship of state ‑owned land TC Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program DOC Prescribed fire and hand crews   CalFire CalFire unit fire prevention projects CalFire Ecological
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4414

Assessing California’s Climate Policies—Cap-and-Trade Reauthorization

May 7, 2025 - We also highlight some key decision points —and policy options —that the Legislature might want to consider, depending on how it weighs its different policy priorities. Figure  7 provides a summary of these policy options.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5042

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

Feb 24, 2026 - For example, the Legislature has the option of using monies from GGRF flexibly to support any purpose. As such, GGRF could be thought of akin to the General Fund and therefore should similarly be targeted for the state’s highest priorities (whether within the environmental sector or other policy areas).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5140