Living Under Smoky Skies—Understanding the Challenges Posed by Wildfire Smoke in California

Nov 14, 2022 - CARB also plays an important role in monitoring air quality, including during smoke events, by operating a network of permanent and portable air quality monitors in collaboration with local and federal partners.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4644

A Framework for Evaluating State-Level Green Stimulus Proposals

Jan 5, 2021 - Some projects may also be specifically targeted at addressing environmental justice and social equity concerns by remediating conditions that disproportionately affect communities with residents who earn low incomes.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4308

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

Jan 7, 2025 - Typically, the first step that rate ‑setting entities take is to determine the amount of money the utility should be allowed to recover through rates to support the main components of the electricity system and other activities.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4950

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

Feb 17, 2026 - For example, at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), positions include game wardens who prov ide important law enforcement and wildlife and resource protection services. Some CDFW positions also administer various permits, a key function to ensure that projects —from habitat restoration to infrastructure and housing development —can be completed with less damage to the environment.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5124

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

Feb 18, 2025 - Specifically, the survey found that 23  percent of respondents earn $30,000 or less; 19  percent earn between $30,001 and $60,000; 15  percent earn between $60,001 and $90,000; and 11  percent report earning between $90,001 and $120,000.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4967

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 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

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

Mar 18, 2026 - Given the high stakes for fish and water users, the Legislature can play a critical role in monitoring plan implementation. Because the VAs are designed to adapt as new information becomes available —and the board retains authority to terminate the VAs for some or all water users if they are not working as intended —performance will require ongoing evaluation.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5163

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