New Infrastructure Legislation: Summary and Issues for Legislative Oversight

Aug 8, 2023 - The legislation also authorizes Caltrans to use job order contracting for certain maintenance and other activities. Additionally, this legislation extends and expands the California State Transportation Agency ’s (CalSTA ’s) existing authority to assume the responsibilities of the federal government for the purposes of compliance with the National Environmental
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4785

Frequently Asked Questions About Wildfires in California

Jan 28, 2025 -  $25  million annually beginning in 2017 ‑18 to pre ‑position mutual aid fire engines and other related equipment in order to decrease local response times to potentially destructive wildfires and other disasters.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4952

New Infrastructure Legislation: Summary and Issues for Legislative Oversight [Publication Details]

Aug 8, 2023 - The Legislature recently adopted a package of bills aimed at expediting infrastructure projects. In this post, we provide a summary of the key components of the bills that comprise this infrastructure package, including provisions related to legislative oversight. We conclude by identifying key issues for the Legislature to consider as it oversees the implementation of this legislation.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/4785

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

Jan 7, 2025 - Figure 3 provides a breakdown of the relative magnitude of the activities that rates supported for the three large IOUs in 2023. Electricity Bills Include Some Additional Charges. Electric utility bills often reflect a number of other state and local taxes and charges.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4950

The 2024-25 Budget: Salton Sea Management Program

Feb 26, 2024 - Anticipating the potential effects of the QSA, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) ordered delays in the pace of water flow reductions. Specifically, the board issued a water rights order in 2002 requiring that for 15 years, IID had to continue to provide inflow water to the Sea at levels sufficient to maintain the salinity levels that would have existed absent the transfer.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4859

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

Feb 24, 2025 - In order to avoid a patchwork of differing state ‑level regulatory requirements from developing across the country, federal law generally preempts state governments from adopting their own air pollutant emissions standards for new motor vehicles and new motor vehicle engines.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4980

The 2025-26 Budget: Natural Resources and Agriculture Discretionary Spending Proposals

Feb 18, 2025 - Moreover, over the past few years, the state has provided funds to schools in order to improve their ability to provide more healthy meals, procure California ‑grown foods, and incorporate more freshly prepared foods.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4967

What Threat Does Sea-Level Rise Pose to California?

Aug 10, 2020 - This will require the state to direct greater flows of fresh river water to “push back ” on those tides in order keep saltwater away from the conveyance pumps located at the southern end of the Delta.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4261

The 2024-25 California Spending Plan: Resources and Environmental Protection

Sep 12, 2024 - Figure 11 2023 ‑24 Revised Multiyear Totals 2024 ‑25 Protecting the coast from climate change SCC Adapting to sea ‑level rise SCC Adapting infrastructure to sea ‑level rise SCC Protecting the ocean from climate change OPC Adapting to sea ‑level rise in state parks Parks $17 R = Reduction, FS = Fund Shift, and D = Delay.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4928

Climate Change Impacts Across California - Crosscutting Issues

Apr 5, 2022 - Although uncertainty remains about the timing and magnitude of when and how these hazards and their resulting impacts will manifest, the science is conclusive that they will be part of California ’s future.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4575