The 2026-27 Budget: Proposed Elimination of State Environmental Positions

Feb 17, 2026 - For example, at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), positions include game wardens who prov ide important law enforcement and wildlife and resource protection services. Some CDFW positions also administer various permits, a key function to ensure that projects —from habitat restoration to infrastructure and housing development —can be completed with less damage to the environment.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5124

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

Feb 10, 2026 - Without the additional funding, DWR would have less capacity to implement current law and ensure dam owners are following rules designed to protect people and property from dam failures. DWR: Urban Flood Risk Reduction.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5116

The Bay-Delta Plan and Voluntary Agreements: Ensuring Effective Legislative Oversight

Mar 18, 2026 - The box below describes some of the primary ways that state and federal rules govern water use in the Bay ‑Delta watershed and how they  interact. Numerous State and Federal Rules Govern Water Use in the Bay‑Delta Watershed Water allocations from the San Francisco Bay ‑Delta watershed depend not only on available supply from rainfall and snowmelt, but also on a
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5163

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

Mar 2, 2026 - Army Corps of Engineers recently released a proposed rule to effectuate the narrowed definition of WOTUS. …Shifting Regulation of Certain Waters to the State. At the state level, all WOTUS —and many other waters, wetlands, and streams —meet the state statutory definition for “waters of the state ” because it is much broader than the federal definition.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5144

The 2025-26 Budget: May Revision Trailer Bill Proposals on the Delta Conveyance Project and Water Quality Control Plans

May 27, 2025 - (This responds to a court ruling that DWR exceeded its authority in seeking to issue revenue bonds for a broader “Delta Program, ” which the court ruled was more than a modification of the SWP) (Section 6) .
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5053

The 2025-26 Budget: State Mandate—Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board

May 5, 2025 - This decision opened the door for local governments to seek reimbursement for complying with water boards ’ permit requirements that they believe go beyond federal requirements. 2016 State Supreme Court Ruling Found That Water Boards ’ Implementation Decisions Can Be Reimbursable.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5039

Summary of Major 2022 Climate and Energy Legislation

Jan 6, 2023 - CARB estimates that, by 2040, the rule will cut GHG emissions from cars, pickups, and SUVs in half compared to current projections if the rule had not been adopted. CARB also is in the process of adopting a new regulation for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4660

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Natural Resources and Environmental Protection

Oct 16, 2025 - Assembly Bill 149 exempts from CEQA the construction of temporary facilities for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and also exempts any temporary Olympics facility located in the coastal zone from having to obtain a coastal development permit.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5080

Assessing Early Implementation of Urban Water Use Efficiency Requirements

Jan 4, 2024 - Legislation requires this standard to incorporate the principles of existing rules concerning newly constructed  landscapes. Real Water Losses. This standard is an amount of water a supplier is allowed to lose through leakages in its system.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4823

Living Under Smoky Skies—Understanding the Challenges Posed by Wildfire Smoke in California

Nov 14, 2022 - For example, one 2022 study found a relationship between wildfire smoke levels and poorer cognitive performance on a brain‑training game, and another 2022 study found a link between smoke exposure and lower test scores.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4644