The 2025-26 Budget: Medi-Cal Pharmacy Spending

Apr 3, 2025 - After paying pharmacies for the drugs, Medi ‑Cal submits claims to drug makers for negotiated rebates. These rebates provide money back to the Medi ‑Cal program, effectively helping to offset some of the cost of the drugs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5026

The 2025-26 Budget: Health Care Access and Information

Feb 20, 2025 - One key issue is rebates —negotiated discounts that drug makers pay to health plans after drugs are purchased. Rebates help health plans mitigate the high cost of drugs, and brand drugs likely come with higher rebates than generic drugs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4979

The 2025-26 Budget: Department of Developmental Services

Mar 5, 2025 - Paid internships allow DDS to pay the wages of and provide job coaches to consumers (either individually or in groups) placed short ‑term in a community employment setting. Tailored day services help consumers develop skills for employment through customized training.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5008

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

Jan 7, 2025 - Ratepayers, Particularly Those Served by IOUs, Also Pay for Other State Programs Aimed at Helping the State Meet GHG Reduction Goals. California ratepayers not only pay for activities associated with shifting to more renewable sources of electricity, but also bear other costs related to supporting the state ’s efforts to meet its GHG targets.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4950

The 2025-26 Budget: Proposition 98 Guarantee and K-12 Spending Plan

Feb 13, 2025 - Ongoing spending increases can help districts address longer ‑term challenges and state priorities, sustain new programs, and cover their ongoing cost pressures. Conversely, one ‑time funds can help districts cover one ‑time expenses and pay for starting up programs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4963

The 2025-26 Budget: Department of Justice

Feb 19, 2025 - An alternative approach that uses a cost ‑sharing model by requiring BFS users to pay a portion of BFS costs would help address the weaknesses we see in the Governor ’s approach. First, since these forensic services are essential to their law enforcement and prosecutorial responsibilities, sharing the costs with these agencies —rather than having the state directly bearing all of the costs —is a more appropriate allocation of fiscal responsibility.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4972

Rethinking California's Reserve Policy

Apr 10, 2025 - In this report, when revenues are insufficient for the state to pay for its core service level, we describe the difference as a funding shortfall. A funding shortfall is distinct from a budget deficit, which occurs when revenues are insufficient for the state to pay for all of its currently authorized services (not just core services).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5028

The 2025-26 Budget: Office of Emergency Services—Request for Reappropriation of Law Enforcement Mutual Aid Fund Resources

Feb 24, 2025 - These funds, which OES limits to emergency events that meet certain criteria (such as lasting more than 12 hours), may be used to pay for responding officer overtime, housing, and other specified costs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4982

The 2025-26 Budget: California State University

Feb 25, 2025 - This would help Fellows, some of the lowest ‑paid state workers, afford the rising cost of living and potentially help to preserve an important pipeline into state government careers. Though a 10  percent increase is slightly above the current salary amount adjusted for the CA CPI, this increase is intended to also help make the program more accessible and keep the program competitive.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4989

The 2025-26 Budget: Various California Air Resources Board Proposals

Feb 24, 2025 - The  state assesses a variety of fees and charges to  help fund its operations. Typically, the state levies fees to pay for the costs of specific regulatory activities or for providing specified government services or products.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4980