New Infrastructure Legislation: Summary and Issues for Legislative Oversight

Aug 8, 2023 - Chapter  53 of 2023 (SB  124, Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) authorizes the Infrastructure and Economic Development  Bank (I-Bank) to spend future federal funding that the state might receive through the Climate Catalyst Revolving Loan Fund program.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4785

The 2023-24 Budget: California Volunteers Proposed Program Expansions

Mar 1, 2023 - Second, the program could continue operating a t existing levels even without the proposed expansion, given the existing $4.7  million in General Fund currently is planned through 2025 ‑26 along with the $3  million in annual federal AmeriCorps funds.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4723

The 2026-27 Budget: Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation Proposals

Mar 19, 2026 - If the Legislature determines that its other existing state commitments are higher priority than the LCI activities that would be funded with these proposals, it could revise existing statutory requirements t o downscale LCI ’s responsibilities and resource needs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5167

Reducing the Destructiveness of Wildfires: Promoting Defensible Space in California

Sep 30, 2021 - We recommend that the Legislature conduct ongoing oversight focused on ( 1) a ssessing the size and location of gaps and overlaps in programs, ( 2) t he implementation of CalFire ’s new training program, ( 3) t he cost ‑effectiveness of defensible space activities, and ( 4) t he outcomes of current and future demonstration projects.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4457

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

Mar 2, 2026 - (SWRCB estimates t hat exempting state-only permits from having to meet CEQA requirements would shorten their preparation time lines by at least a year.) Aligning Public Notification Requirements With Federal Processes.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5144

What Can We Learn From How the State Responded to the Last Major Drought?

May 13, 2021 - California ’s most recent drought included the driest consecutive four ‑year stretch since statewide precipitation record ‑keeping began — 2012 t hrough 2015 —with 2014 r epresenting the third driest year on record.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4429

The 2021-22 Budget: Department of Toxic Substances Control

Mar 19, 2021 - Should the tax exemption be extended to businesses with 50 t o 99 e mployees? Should rates be maintained for businesses with 100 t o 499 e mployees? Should Pandemic Relief Measures Be Revisited in Future Years?
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4406

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Other Provisions

Oct 16, 2025 - The estimated total project cost is $53  million. Construction is scheduled to begin in November 2025 and expected to be complete by January 2028. Proposition  4 (2024). The budget package allocates funds authorized by Proposition  4, which provided $10  billion in bond funds for activities designed to increase the state ’s resilience to the impacts of climate change.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5081/

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

May 27, 2025 - State regulations require them to prepare substitute environmental documents consisten t with CEQA goals and standards, rather than an environmental impact report. Bay-Delta Plan Update Is Long Overdue.
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 - Depending on the activity, such actions might be less disruptive than having to reduce an existing program, or than beginning implementation and then having t o pause it in the next year or two due to worsening budget conditions.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5116