Assessing California’s Climate Policies—Cap-and-Trade Reauthorization [Publication Details]

May 7, 2025 - This report is intended to help inform legislative decision-making around reauthorization of the cap-and-trade program. It is submitted pursuant to Chapter 135 of 2017 (AB 398, Garcia), which requires our office to report annually on the economic impacts and benefits of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5042

Assessing California’s Climate Policies—Cap-and-Trade Reauthorization

May 7, 2025 - Assembly Bill  32 gave CARB almost complete discretion over how to design the cap ‑and ‑trade program. Since the program ’s establishment, much of the Legislature ’s role has revolved around how to spend GGRF revenues, including establishing ongoing statutory allocations and selecting discretionary allocations on an annual basis.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5042

Assessing California’s Climate Policies—Residential Electricity Rates in California [Publication Details]

Jan 7, 2025 - This report explores key questions that frequently emerge around residential electricity rates in California, including why electricity rates are relatively high, some resulting implications for ratepayers and state climate change goals, and notable emerging issues.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/4950

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

Jan 7, 2025 - Chapter  488 of 2006 (A B  32 , N ú ñez) established the goal of limiting GHG emissions statewide to  1990 levels by 2020. In 2016, Chapter  249 (S B  32 , Pavley) extended the limit to  40  percent below  1990 levels by  2030.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4950

Ethnic studies course at the California State University. [Ballot]

May 15, 2025 - Chapter 32 of 2020 (AB 1460, Weber) requires CSU undergraduates to complete a three-unit ethnic studies course to graduate. The ethnic studies course could not increase the total n umber of units required to graduate.
https://lao.ca.gov/BallotAnalysis/Initiative/2025-003

Retail Theft in California: Looking Back at a Decade of Change

Jun 12, 2025 - Subsequently, between 2021 and 2023, retail theft increased by 32  percent. Over the entire ten ‑year period —2014 to 2023 —reported retail theft increased by 48 crimes per 100,000  people, or 11  percent.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5055

The 2025-26 Budget: Cap-and-Trade Expenditure Plan

Feb 12, 2025 - The two proposals  include: Clean Energy Reliability Investment Plan (CERIP) Fund Shift ($32   Million Shift From GGRF to Proposition   4). The Governor proposes shifting $32  million of planned spending to implement CERIP from GGRF to Proposition  4.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4960

Cannabis Tax Revenue Update (2025 Q1) [EconTax Blog]

Jun 3, 2025 - Chapter 56, Statutes of 2022 (AB 195, Committee on Budget) eliminated the cultivation tax on July 1, 2022. This law also requires the administration to increase the retail excise tax rate to 19 percent effective July 1, 2025.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/831

Cannabis Tax Revenue Update (2025 Q1) [EconTax Blog]

Jun 3, 2025 - Chapter 56, Statutes of 2022 (AB 195, Committee on Budget) eliminated the cultivation tax on July 1, 2022. This law also requires the administration to increase the retail excise tax rate to 19 percent effective July 1, 2025.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/article/Detail/831

Firearms and Ammunition Revenue Update (2025 Q1) [EconTax Blog]

May 21, 2025 - Firearms and Ammunition Revenue Update (2025 Q1) [EconTax Blog] Firearms and Ammunition Revenue Update (2025 Q1) May 21, 2025 Seth Kerstein Beginning July 2024, Chapter 231 of 2023 (AB 28, Gabriel) imposed an 11 percent excise tax on retail sales of firearms, firearm precursor parts, and ammunition, with some exemptions.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/830