Overview of New Updates to the Cap-and-Invest Program

Dec 9, 2025 - Continued and robust legislative oversight will be key to helping ensure that the cap ‑and ‑invest program operates effectively and balances competing policy trade ‑offs in a way that is consistent with legislative  priorities.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5097

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

Feb 10, 2026 - While this rationale is reasonable, this approach is not without trade ‑offs. Most notably, because including state operations expenditures as part of Tier 1 means they receive first priority for available GGRF, adding new activities to this category can have the effect of gradually “crowding out ” other GGRF ‑funded programs and activities.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5114

The 2024-25 Budget: CalFire—Implementation of a 66-Hour Workweek

Mar 19, 2024 - This could allow the department to shorten the workweek without adding such significant new costs. A major drawback to this approach is that maintaining a lower staff ing factor would deny firefighters the benefit of additional capacity to cover time off for vacations, training, and other activities.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4886

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

Mar 19, 2026 - Because the Legislature already signed off on LCI ’s plans to establish its own IT office, providing additional funding to complete that transition and ensure the systems are safe and secure would be consistent with previous legislative decisions.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5167

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

May 7, 2025 - A key trade ‑off of a lower cap is that allowances would become more scarce, thus driving up allowance prices. This, in turn, would result in higher costs to emitters, and ultimately to households and businesses, as discussed previously.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5042

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

Feb 24, 2026 - There also are a number of other refiners in the United States that currently produce RD and could, with the purchase of some ad ditional equipment, be converted to produce SAF in addition to, or instead of, RD.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5139

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

Mar 2, 2026 - We recommend the Legislature consider some or all of the statutory amendments identified by SWRCB to align state procedures and requirements more closely with the federal approach, while evaluating trade-offs related to public participation and environmental review.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5144

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

Feb 10, 2026 - Even Proposals With Strong Justifications Come With Trade ‑Offs. The Legislature may find it needs to approve some level of new expenditures —even from the General Fund —such as to address pressing health and safety concerns.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5116

The 2025-26 Budget: Cap-and-Trade Reauthorization and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Proposals at May Revision

May 19, 2025 - Using GGRF to achieve budget solutions is not without trade-offs, as it results in a need to reprioritize the use of GGRF and make reductions to previously planned expenditures from the fund. However, these trade-offs are present throughout the budget this year.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5049

The 2024-25 Budget: Flood Management Proposals

Feb 26, 2024 - Despite these potential benefits, the Legislature will need to weigh the trade ‑offs associated with adding new spending for these Central Valley systemwide projects against its other budget commitments.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4856