The 2025-26 Budget: State Mandate—Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board

May 5, 2025 - However, CSM said that costs were not reimbursable after 2017 because SB 231 made it less burdensome for local governments to increase fees beginning in 2018. The commission estimates that, in total, local reimbursements for these activities will cost the state less than $1 million (between $459,106 and $690,409, depending on how many final local reimbursement claims ultimately are submitted).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5039

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

Mar 18, 2026 - After finalizing its scientific basis report in 2017, SWRCB released a framework in 2018 that proposed regulatory objectives for Sacramento/Delta inflows, cold‑water habitat, Delta outflows, and interior Delta flows.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5163

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

Feb 24, 2026 - Finally, we have concerns that the creation of a new program adds complexity and potential duplication. In light of these factors and the constrained state budget condition, we recommend the Legislature reject the proposal.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5140

Assessing Early Implementation of Urban Water Use Efficiency Requirements

Jan 4, 2024 - DWR and SWRCB—along with several other departments—issued a report in 2017 about implementing the framework, which then led to its codification in 2018. SWRCB will adopt final regulations next year to implement the framework’s requirements.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4823

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

Feb 10, 2026 - The Legislature may want to learn more about potential consequences that could ensue from the administration’s proposal to not fund these planned amounts and consider them as it develops its final GGRF spending package.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5114

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

Feb 17, 2026 - However, in many cases, the residual positions in question supported by special funds do not have a direct impact on the General Fund and thus do not factor directly into efforts to balance the budget.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5124

The 2025-26 Budget: State Mandates—Regional Water Quality Control Boards

May 30, 2025 - Final costs will total around $3  million (between $2.4  million and $3.7  million). Funding these mandates does not have direct out-year fiscal implications for the state. Subscribe | California State Legislature | Online Voter Registration | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Legislative Analyst's Office | The California Legislature's Nonpartisan Fiscal and Policy Advisor 925 L Street, Suite 1000 Sacramento, CA 95814 | (916) 445-4656
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5054

The 2025-26 Budget: May Revision Trailer Bill Proposals on the Delta Conveyance Project and Water Quality Control Plans

May 27, 2025 - Finally, it notes that years-long delays can result from the current requirements —highlighting the Bay-Delta Plan as an example —which can prevent projects to protect the environment from occurring.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5053

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

Feb 10, 2026 - Finally, after it has identified what level of funding its budget can support, we suggest the Legislature think about revisiting the mix of how those resources are dedicated to prioritize the most important activities.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5116

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

Mar 2, 2026 - By contrast, dredge/fill certifications only require public notice of an application and do not require responses to comments. SWRCB indicates that the vast majority of dredge/fill projects do not receive public comments.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5144