State Assistance to Businesses in Response to COVID-19

Jan 4, 2024 - Research nationally and in other states has found consistent evidence of racial disparities in the distribution of PPP loans, particularly for Black ‑owned businesses. These findings include, for example, that Black ‑owned firms were about 9  percent less likely to receive PPP loans than similar white ‑owned firms and, among Black ‑owned
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4824

The 2026-27 Budget: Contract to Achieve Operational Efficiencies

Mar 10, 2026 - This report provided little information beyond what was already included in the contract. For example, the report did not specify what, if any, changes had been implemented to date or whether the state was on track to achieve the level of savings assumed in 2025-26 or the out-years resulting from the contract.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5156

The 2026-27 Budget: Office of Emergency Services Next Generation 911 System

Feb 27, 2026 - What evidence is there showing that the transition to a statewide approach will solve the problems identified above or problems that lead OES to propose abandoning the regional approach? What Other Options Were Considered?
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5145

The 2021-22 Budget: Improving Legislative Oversight of Emergency Spending Authorities

Mar 2, 2021 - Without information on planned and actual spending, it is difficult for the Legislature to understand what activities the funds are supporting or whether the administration ’s response approach is likely to be effective or is consistent with legislative priorities.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4393

The 2026-2027 Budget: California Cannabis Control Appeals Panel Permanent Funding Request

Feb 11, 2026 - Assessment Still Too Early to Know What Actual Caseload and Workload Will Be. As mentioned previously, CCAP has argued that the reason the panel has heard so few cases is because so many licensees held provisional licenses.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5119

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

Feb 24, 2025 - This will ensure the Legislature can make an informed decision about what the goals for the program should be and help it eventually assess whether the program should be maintained on an ongoing basis.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4982

The 2021-22 Budget: State Board of Equalization

Feb 23, 2021 - What Resources Will BOE Need for Its Existing Duties? As noted above, BOE ’s vacancies —and the closely related underspending of its budgetary appropriation —have had a variety of negative effects. A 2021 ‑22 appropriation that allows for some growth in actual spending could help BOE address some of these problems.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4385

The 2025-26 Budget: State Departments’ Operational Efficiencies (Control Sections 4.05 and 4.12)

Feb 19, 2025 - The suggestion that these departments cannot maintain service levels while reducing their expenditures by the levels identified as efficiency savings in the report to the Legislature raises concerns that the identified savings are not true efficiencies but rather constitute cuts that could negatively affect current se rvice levels.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4975

The 2025-26 Budget: Department of Real Estate

Mar 19, 2025 - Governor ’s Proposal January Budget Projected a Negative Fund Balance at End of 2025-26. The Governor ’s proposed budget includes $70  million for DRE in 2025-26. This amount reflects an increase of $2.8  million (about 4  percent) from the revised 2024-25 level.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5019

Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Program Review

Dec 2, 2025 - What Does OSDS Do in Support of the DVBE Program? Among other things, OSDS certifies DVBE vendor eligibility; manages and responds to complaints of program noncompliance, fraud, and abuse; provides education, training, and support to DVBEs; and provides guidance to state entities to help them meet their 3  percent participation goals.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5095