The 2026-27 Budget: California Competes Extension

Mar 18, 2026 - In years where the program is fully subscribed, there is an opportunity cost associated with an agreement that is not fulfilled. Namely, those tax credits could have been awarded to another applicant who would have been more likely to achieve their milestones.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5162

Evaluating State Economic Stimulus Proposals

Feb 1, 2021 - For example, in our analysis The 2019‑20 Budget: Opportunity Zones , we argued that creating a new state Opportunity Zone program to fund affordable housing would add an unnecessary layer of complication to the financing of affordable housing.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4331

The 2026-27 Budget: CDTFA’s Cannabis and Tobacco Programs

Feb 23, 2026 - To support this sustained effort, we recommend that the Legislature set up opportunities to revisit program resources in the 2027 and/or 2028 budget processes. The administration has been spending General Fund on cannabis tax enforcement, which should be funded exclusively by the Cannabis Tax Fund.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5132

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

Mar 18, 2025 - If the Legislature wants to expand support for commercial activities, other programs provide more promising opportunities. In light of these issues, we recommend that the Legislature reject the proposal.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5018

Overview of Diversity Efforts in the Film Tax Credit Program

May 1, 2025 - The definition of DEIA adopted by the CFC and in the California Code of Regulations includes a commitment to provide equitable access to opportunities on the basis of a wide range of protected classes.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5036

The 2022-23 Budget: Fuel Price and Other Fiscal Relief Options

May 12, 2022 - Similarly, providing income ‑based relief by augmenting established state assistance programs —such as California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) —would be relatively straightforward.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4597

Fixing Unemployment Insurance

Dec 2, 2024 - Although the long economic recovery that followed the Great Recession should have provided the system with an opportunity to build reserves, experience rating prevented the system from functioning as intended.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4943

Tax Credit Expansions in the American Rescue Plan

Apr 13, 2021 - The Department of Social Services recently released guidance that benefits granted under the expanded CTC will not count as income when determining either eligibility or benefit amounts for CalFresh, California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids, or Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payments, among other safety net programs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4410

The 2022-23 Budget: Supply Chain and Port Infrastructure Proposals

Feb 15, 2022 - Further, although insufficient training opportunities can lead to workforce shortages, many other dynamics also affect workforce supply and therefore could ins tead be causing the purported shortage.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4540

The 2023-24 Budget: Considering Inflation's Effects on State Programs

Nov 16, 2022 - This includes, for example, Medi ‑Cal, California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs), and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). To support these functions, the state pays a share of counties ’ costs based expected workload.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4647