The 2024-25 Budget: Salton Sea Management Program

Feb 26, 2024 - USACE released the draft environmental assessment in June 2022. In addition, USACE works with SSMP to secure necessary federal permits for projects. USACE Also Conducting Feasibility Study of Potential Long ‑Term Restoration Activities.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4859

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

May 7, 2025 - Revenues From Allowances Can Play Key Role in Helping Preserve Affordability. The value of allowances —both those that are given away for free and those that are sold to generate GGRF revenue —can play an important role in mitigating the program ’s impacts on affordability.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5042

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

Mar 18, 2026 - VA Parties Submitted an Alternative Proposal in 2022. Water users missed the 2019 deadline to submit a VA proposal to SWRCB. In March  2022, they came forward with an initial Memorandum of Understanding detailing terms to advance a VA for the Sacramento/Delta.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5163

Assessing California's Climate Policies—The 2022 Scoping Plan Update

Jan 4, 2023 - In contrast, the 2022 Scoping Plan Update does not specify what role cap ‑and ‑trade is expected to play in reducing emissions. Instead, CARB indicates that the administration will submit a report to the Legislature by the end of 2023 containing potential suggestions on programmatic changes to ensure the program is well ‑positioned to help the state meet its goals.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4656

Frequently Asked Questions About Wildfires in California

Jan 28, 2025 - These fires played an important role in keeping the state ’s forests and landscapes healthy by periodically clearing underbrush and contributing to regrowth of native plant species. Because of the change in fire prevalence, when wildfires do occur now, they often burn at higher severity than would naturally be the case.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4952

The 2023-24 Budget: California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Major Capital Outlay Proposals

Feb 21, 2023 - That CCC has a facility within close proximity and is playing an increasingly important role in meeting the needs once filled by conservation camp crews makes the continued need for Growlersburg even less certain.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4693

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

Dec 9, 2025 - The Legislature can play an important role overseeing and guiding these efforts. For  instance, the newly envisioned Climate Bureau ’s usefulness is likely to be enhanced if its activities are directed to high ‑priority topics and if it is created such that it can build a reputation as a credible source of timely analyses.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5097

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

Feb 24, 2026 - While ZEV ‑specific programs can play a role in augmenting the state ’s broader programs —such as by making ZEVs more accessible to low ‑income households and helping to encourage the market to produce a greater number and variety of vehicles —they are less critical than they otherwise would be without the “backstop ” of those broader GHG ‑reducing programs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5140

Assessing California’s Climate Policies—Residential Electricity Rates in California

Jan 7, 2025 - However, when taken together, the state’s policies likely have played an important role in achieving the observed reductions. Ratepayers Pay Additional Costs Associated With Transitioning to Cleaner Sources of Electricity.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4950

The 2022-23 Budget: Wildfire Response Proposals

Jan 28, 2022 - We  find the proposed expansion of hand crew capacity in the state is likely merited given the recent declines in inmate crews and the importance these crews play in the state ’s response and resilience strategies.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4504