The 2025-26 Budget: Natural Resources and Agriculture Discretionary Spending Proposals

Feb 18, 2025 - Recommendations Reject Funding for Climate Smart Technical Assistance Grants. We recommend the Legislature reject the Governor ’s proposal to provide $3  million for climate smart technical assistance grants.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4967

The 2026-27 Budget: California Public Utilities Commission’s Implementation of AB 1207

Feb 10, 2026 - Recommendations Decide Upon Desired Scope of Activities and Adjust Level of Resources Accordingly. We recommend the Legislature (1)  assess whether the activities that appear to go beyond the required scope of AB  1207 are consistent with legislative intent, as well as whether they are high priorities for funding given the state ’s serious budget challenges, and (2)  make corresponding changes to the level of staffing and funding provided, as relevant.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5120

The 2026-27 Budget: Cap-and-Invest Expenditure Plan

Feb 10, 2026 - Recommendations Direct GGRF to Highest Legislative Priorities, Including for Supporting Core Activities Traditionally Funded With General Fund. We recommend the Legislature dedicate GGRF to its highest budget priorities across the entire state budget, not just within climate ‑ or environment ‑related programs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5114

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

Feb 24, 2026 - Recommendation Reject Proposal. We recommend the Legislature reject the Governor ’s proposal to create a new light ‑duty ZEV incentive program, as it does not meet the high bar we recommend applying to new proposals.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5140

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

Feb 17, 2026 - Recommendations Maintain Special-Funded Environmental Positions Identified by JLBC. We recommend the Legislature reject the elimination of 216 environmental positions supported by special funds that JLBC identified in its nonconcurrence letter to the administration.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5124

The 2026-27 Budget: Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation Proposals

Mar 19, 2026 - Recommendation Weigh Merits of LCI Proposals Within Context of Overall Budget Strategy. As the budget picture becomes more clear in the next few months, we recommend the Legislature decide whether the merits of these proposals outweigh the resulting additional pressure on the General Fund both in 2026-27 and out-years.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5167

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

Mar 2, 2026 - Recommendations Approve Positions and Funding. We recommend the Legislature approve SWRCB ’s proposal for 12 new permanent positions and $2.6  million ongoing from the Waste Discharge Permit Fund. The water boards ’ workload has increased and providing additional resources would help prevent unnecessary delays in the permitting process and allow them to better enforce permit requirements.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5144

The 2024-25 Budget: Insolvency Risks for Environmental and Transportation Special Funds

Feb 27, 2024 - Some of the major expenditure cost drivers have included (1)  replacement of older CHP area offices and DMV field offices, (2)  increased employee compensation costs —which have been driven by both increases to staffing levels and growing salary and benefit costs at CHP, (3)  workload related to the issuance of new driver licenses and ID cards that comply with federal standards
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4858

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

Feb 10, 2026 - Given the state ’s current budget condition and the limited capacity for supporting new commitments, we recommend that the Legislature reject the following proposals. CDFA: Enteric Methane Reduction Incentives.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5116

The 2026-27 Budget: Governor’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Tax Credit Proposal

Feb 24, 2026 - Recommendation Reject Proposed Tax Credit. We recommend the Legislature reject the proposed budget trailer legislation establishing a credit against diesel excise tax revenue for sale of SAF in California.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5139