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

Mar 2, 2026 - California has many wetlands and other ephemeral or seasonal waters that previously were considered WOTUS but now no longer meet the federal definition because they lack a continuous surface connect ion or are not relatively permanent.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5144

The 2026-27 Budget: Framework for Approaching the Natural Resources, Environmental Protection, and Agriculture Budget

Feb 10, 2026 - CalFire: Conversion of Seasonal to Permanent Firefighters. The 2025 ‑26 Budget Act appropriated $39  million General Fund to begin to transition seasonal firefighters to a permanent classification. Budget bill language also stated the Legislature ’s intent to appropriate $78  million General Fund in 2026 ‑27 and ongoing for this purpose, and to eventually
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5116

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

Mar 18, 2026 - (A “run ” refers to the season in which the majority of adults return from the ocean to spawn.) Spring ‑run and winter ‑run Chinook salmon have been listed as threatened or endangered under federal and state law for more than 20 years.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5163

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

Feb 24, 2026 - The federal government also currently offers a tax credit of up to $1 per gallon for SAF that meets certain  requirements. The above policies work together to create a “stack ” of incentives for SAF production.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5139

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

Mar 19, 2026 - Figure  1 provides a breakdown of the proposals. As shown, the funding request includes $10.5  million ongoing to support IT, administrative, legislative, and land policy staff and activities. For implementing various statutory responsibilities, the Governor proposes $741,000 in 2026-27, $1.7  million in 2027-28, $1.5  million from 2028-29 through 2031-32, and $522,000 ongoing thereafter.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5167

The 2026-27 Budget: Proposed Elimination of State Environmental Positions

Feb 17, 2026 - The final budget agreement instead eliminated fewer positions (4,994) and provided the Legislature additional time to review 1,009 additional positions which we refer to as “residual: ” (1)  those associated with implementing legislation chaptered in 2022 and 2023 across numerous departments, and (2)  all of those in nine specified departments which we highlight in Figure  1.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5124

The 2026-27 Budget: Proposition 4 Spending Plan

Feb 10, 2026 - Figure 1 Governor ’s Proposition 4 Proposal: 2026 ‑27 Spending Plan (In Millions)
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5115

The 2026-27 Budget: Cap-and-Invest Expenditure Plan

Feb 10, 2026 - DOF indicates that its proposed budget trailer legislation clarifies its interpretation of the intent of SB 840 related to (1) the funds subject to the SB 840 methodology and (2) the treatment of state operations costs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5114

The 2026-27 Budget: Proposed Zero-Emission Vehicle Incentive

Feb 24, 2026 - In July 2025, the President signed H.R. 1 —also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act —which eliminated these ZEV purchase incentives as of the end of September 2025. Since the passage of H.R. 1, some vehicle manufacturers have signaled that they expect to scale back their previously planned production of ZEVs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5140

The 2026-27 Budget: California Public Utilities Commission’s Implementation of AB 1207

Feb 10, 2026 - We recommend the Legislature (1)  assess whether these additional activities are consistent with legislative intent, as well as whether they are high priorities for funding given the state ’s serious budget challenges and (2)  make corresponding changes to the level of staffing and funding provided, as relevant.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5120