The 2018-19 Budget: Fire Recovery Proposals

Mar 1, 2018 - In December, the state experienced another set of devastating fires, this time in the southern part of the state. Most notably, on December 4, 2017, the Thomas Fire began burning near Santa Paula in Ventura County.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3767

State Wildfire Response Costs Estimated to Be Higher Than Budgeted

Oct 19, 2020 - Figure  3 shows CalFire fire protection costs —including baseline and E-Fund expenditures —since 2005 ‑06. As shown, based on current E-Fund estimates, total CalFire wildfire protection costs will reach about $3.1  billion.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4285

New Federal Toxics Law Could Have Future Implications for State

Oct 5, 2016 - For chemicals it finds do not meet safety standards, EPA will have two years to issue regulations on the chemical so that the chemical would no longer present an unreasonable risk. Those regulations could ban or otherwise restrict the chemical ’s use, establish safety requirements, or require additional reporting or labeling by the manufacturer.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3504

The 2026-27 Budget: Proposition 4 Spending Plan

Feb 10, 2026 - Overall, Proposed Plan Seems Reasonable and Consistent With Bond Requirements. Based on our review, the Governor ’s proposal appears reasonable. We have not identified any proposed actions or appropriations that conflict with bond requirements, and the timing of the funding allocations generally seems to account for and align with what we know about department capacity and local demand.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5115

The 2026-27 Budget: Governor’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Tax Credit Proposal

Feb 24, 2026 - While such a scenario may seem far‑fetched, the most recent federal data show that California consumes more RD than is produced in the entire United States, indicating that producers have responded strongly to existing state policy incentives for renewable fuels by selling in California.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5139

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

Dec 9, 2025 - For example, under these pieces of legislation, CARB continues to have authority to set the level of the program ’s price ceiling and floor, the total number of allowances issued, and the share of allowances to sell versus provide for free to industry and utilities.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5097

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

Mar 19, 2026 - While the two offices are now separate, LCI provides administrative, cybersecurity, and information technology (IT) infrastructure services to GO-SERVE. GO-SERVE reimburses LCI for the staff time LCI spends providing these services (but not for the cost of maintaining the infrastructure) .
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5167

The Salton Sea: A Status Update

Aug 29, 2018 - Salton Sea Authority JPA including IID, CVWD, the Torres ‑Martinez tribe, and Imperial and Riverside counties. Partners with other entities to develop projects to restore the Sea. State Natural Resources Agency Serves as lead agency overseeing and guiding state ’s Salton Sea activities.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3879

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

Jan 7, 2025 - Electricity Rate ‑Setting Processes Include a Few Key Steps. The rate ‑setting process for electric utilities is complex. The process generally includes the following main steps: Step 1: Determine Revenue Requirement.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4950

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

Mar 18, 2026 - The Bay ‑Delta Plan identifies beneficial uses, sets water quality objectives, and prescribes a program of implementation for the entire watershed. SWRCB (rather than a regional board) manages the Bay ‑Delta Plan because the watershed spans multiple regions and sets flow requirements.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5163