The 2025-26 Budget: CWS-CARES [Publication Details]

Mar 5, 2025 - This post provides our analysis of the administration’s 2025-26 proposal for the Child Welfare Services-California Automated Response and Engagement System information technology project.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5006

The 2025-26 Budget: CWS-CARES

Mar 5, 2025 - The Child Welfare Services/Case Management System (CWS/CMS) cannot currently provide this level of tracking but, upon completion, the first version of CWS-CARES will meet federal tracking requirements.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5006

The 2023-24 Budget: Analysis of the Governor’s Major Behavioral Health Proposals

Feb 16, 2023 - Statewide Demonstration Components Required to Receive CMS Approval . The Governor ’s budget proposes the following state activities to meet the requirements to receive CMS approval of the demonstration waiver.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4689

The 2021-22 Budget: Department of Developmental Services (DDS) May Revision Budget Proposal

May 24, 2021 - Guidance was issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on May 13 and directed states to submit their spending plans to CMS by June 12. The Legislature might consider whether this new source of federal funding could be used to support one-time efforts to plan the performance incentives program and to overhaul DDS ’ data system.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4438

How Have Past Stock Market Downturns Affected Income Tax Revenue? [EconTax Blog]

Mar 9, 2026 - By most measures, the global financial crisis was more severe than the dot-com crash. The state 's unemployment rate, for example, peaked at 7 percent following the dot-com crash but reached nearly double that during the financial crisis and remained elevated for much longer.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/852

How Have Past Stock Market Downturns Affected Income Tax Revenue? [EconTax Blog]

Mar 9, 2026 - By most measures, the global financial crisis was more severe than the dot-com crash. The state 's unemployment rate, for example, peaked at 7 percent following the dot-com crash but reached nearly double that during the financial crisis and remained elevated for much longer.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/article/Detail/852

The 2026-27 Budget: Department of Developmental Services

Mar 13, 2026 - According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the final rule is intended to increase transparency and accountability, standardize data and monitoring, and create opportunities for states to promote active beneficiary engagement.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5157

Considering Medi-Cal in the Midst of a Changing Fiscal and Policy Landscape

Oct 24, 2025 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) previously adopted two rules intended to streamline eligibility and enrollment processes, such as by verifying income and assets using electronic data.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5083

California’s Strong Revenue Trends Mask Looming Budget Risk

Jan 23, 2026 - After the dot-com bust and the Great Recession, it took four and five years, respectively, for revenues to recover. Incorporating revenue risk into the budget now, therefore, reflects prudence, not pessimism.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5104

Oversight of certain public benefit artificial intelligence (AI) companies. [Ballot]

Jan 20, 2026 - The measure would have the following major fiscal effects: Increased state costs that would likely be in the tens of millions of dollars annually to establish and operate a new regulatory commission overseeing certain public benefit AI com panies.
https://lao.ca.gov/BallotAnalysis/Initiative/2025-033