Reducing the Destructiveness of Wildfires: Promoting Defensible Space in California

Sep 30, 2021 - Research suggests that the resources required to complete defensible space work —in the form of time and money —can be a significant barrier. In particular, certain activities, such as removal of large trees, can be difficult and cost thousands of dollars if the homeowner hires someone to conduct the removal.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4457

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

Feb 10, 2026 - We note that the language of S B  840 indicates that the methodology applies to “moneys in the fund ” and thus does not clearly limit it exclusively to auction revenues. However, the administration indicates that the intent of S B   840 was to apply the methodology only to auction revenues, consistent with historical practice.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5114

The 2025-26 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget

Jan 13, 2025 - The reason for the reduction is the recent voter approval of Proposition  35 (2024), which requires the state to spend less MCO tax money on offsetting General Fund spending and more money on provider rate increases.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4951

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

Mar 18, 2026 - Moreover, VAs are more flexible than traditional regulations (allowing adaptation in closer to real time), have fewer adverse impacts on water users, provide more certainty to water agencies, and could be implemented more quickly.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5163

A Framework for Evaluating State-Level Green Stimulus Proposals

Jan 5, 2021 - For example, spending a greater share of the General Fund budget on environmental projects means less money is available for other state priorities, such as education, health care, or adding to reserves.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4308

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

Dec 9, 2025 - For example, S B  840 ’s requirement that CARB update offset compliance protocols to reflect the best available science could potentially result in lower emissions if they lead to a greater number of offset projects that provide real, permanent GHG reductions.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5097

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

Feb 10, 2026 - While this amendment does not yet obligate the state to make further workweek reductions, it does create a real possibility of additional policy changes that could increase annual General Fund costs by hundreds of millions of dollars.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5116

The 2022-23 California Spending Plan: Resources and Environmental Protection

Oct 10, 2022 - The budget includes one-time flexible local assistance funding of $50  million General Fund in 2022-23 for SCC to acquire real property to restore coastal areas and increase public access to natural areas.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4633

Frequently Asked Questions About Wildfires in California

Jan 28, 2025 - In addition to spending its own money, the state requires electric utilities to dedicate funding from their ratepayers to undertake activities intended to reduce the risks of utility-sparked wildfires.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4952

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Other Provisions

Oct 16, 2025 - Proposition  2 (2014) requires the state to spend a specified amount of money (determined through a budgetary formula) each year towards eligible liabilities. It has been state policy to satisfy this requirement through the state ’s General Fund contributions to prefund retiree health benefits and annual supplemental pension payments to the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5081