The 2026-27 Budget: Child Welfare

Mar 3, 2026 - The most recent cost estimates we have seen assume a phased implementation approach over three years (2027-28 to 2029-30). Has the administration considered a more gradual or differently structured phase-in of the new rates that could reduce costs at least in the early years of implementation?
https://lao.ca.gov/publications/report/5147

The 2026-27 Budget: In-Home Supportive Services

Mar 18, 2026 - However, as seen in Figure  5 , when we consider IHSS hourly wages separately, we see that the average growth rate of hourly wages has been 5.6  percent annually since  2014. This growth in IHSS hourly wages is in part due to increases to the state minimum wage —from $8  per hour on January 1, 2014 to $16.90 per hour on January  1,  2026.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5166

The 2026-27 Budget: Streamlining California’s Affordable Housing Funding System

Mar 6, 2026 - As a result, many projects would receive an HDFC award, and thus there would be an increase in calls on the proposed set ‑aside pool. In years of leaner supplies of state subsidies, however, demand for the set ‑aside pool will be much less and a mandatory 50  percent set ‑aside for HDFC projects could be too high.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5154

The 2026-27 Budget: Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP) Program

Mar 3, 2026 - Since the Great Recession, as seen in Figure  2, grants for individuals and couples have been increased four times —in 2016-17 (by 2.76  percent), 2021-22 (by 23.95  percent), 2022-23 (by 10.3  percent), and 2023-24 (by 9.2  percent).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5148

Implementing California’s Child Welfare Prevention Services Program

Jan 28, 2026 - At least one study must demonstrate a sustained favorable effect of at least 12 months beyond the end of treatment on at least one target outcome. Supported At least one study carried out in a usual care or practice setting must achieve a rating of moderate or high on design and execution.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5106

The 2026-27 Budget: Food Assistance Programs

Feb 18, 2026 - (The state is seeking waivers under the tighter rules on a county-by-county basis and has obtained waivers for several counties.) CDSS estimates that there are about 954,800 individuals that fit the expanded ABAWD criteria (compared to about 345,400 individuals who are estimated to meet the prior criteria).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5126

The 2026-27 Budget: CalWORKs

Feb 18, 2026 - As part of the 2018-19 Budget Act , the Legislature set a goal to increase CalWORKs grants to 50  percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) for a family that is one person larger than the number of people in the family for which the grant amount is calculated.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5122

The 2026-27 Budget: County Administration and H.R. 1 Implementation

Mar 5, 2026 - In carrying out their administrative responsibility, counties are required to follow state policy set by the Legislature and administratively by DHCS and DSS. DHCS and DSS policymaking activities underway now will accordingly shape counties ’ H.R.  1 implementation.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5149