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

Mar 18, 2026 - The other pathway —more traditionally regulatory —would apply to water users that do not choose to be part of the VA program. Key features of the two pathways include: VA Pathway Includes Flows and Habitat Projects.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5163

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

May 5, 2025 - Maintains Mandate From January 1, 2018 Forward. Because the Governor ’s proposed suspension would only concern the historic time period in question, the permit requirements would remain in effect as of January 1, 2018 and until the regional board adopts a new permit.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5039

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

Feb 24, 2026 - As we discuss in our December 2018 report, Assessing California’s Climate Policies—Transportation , such challenges can include (1) program interactions that can affect cost‑effectiveness, (2) difficulty evaluating programs,(3) potential lack of program coordination, and (4) increased administrative costs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5140

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

Feb 10, 2026 - A key question for the Legislature is whether it is comfortable that the proposed statutory modifications do indeed reflect its intent, as they have important implications for which programs receive funding under this new structure.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5114

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

Feb 10, 2026 - Second, the 2025 ‑26 amounts similarly include notably more one ‑time bond funds —reflecting $1.3  billion more in total appropriated from Proposition  4 (2024) as compared to what is proposed in 2026 ‑27, as well as funds carried over from other bonds (such as Proposition  68 [2018]) from appropriations made in prior years.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5116

Assessing Early Implementation of Urban Water Use Efficiency Requirements

Jan 4, 2024 - However, the 2018 legislation did not address how to track and manage these potential water savings. Doing so will be key to maximizing the benefits of these conservation efforts. Urban water savings d uring wet years will only help local suppliers and/or the state better manage and meet California ’s water needs during periods of drought if they are targeted effectively.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4823

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

May 27, 2025 - Although SWRCB adopted amend ments concerning one portion of the Bay-Delta watershed (Lower San Joaquin River and Southern Delta salinity standards) in 2018, those new requirements have not yet been implemented.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5053

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

May 30, 2025 - Maintains Mandates From January 1, 2018 Forward. Because the Governor ’s proposed suspensions would only concern the historic time periods in question, the permit requirements mandated by the state would remain in effect as of January 1, 2018 and until each regional board adopts a new permit.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5054

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Wildfires in California

Jan 28, 2025 -  $315  million spread over a few years beginning in 2018 ‑19 to replace all 12  of CalFire ’s helicopters, and $14  million ongoing to support associated increases in maintenance and staffing costs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4952