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

Feb 18, 2025 - This is the lens through which we offer comments on the Governor ’s three proposals discussed below. Background Office of Farm to Fork Promotes Access to Healthy Food and Food ‑Based Education in Schools.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4967

Assessing Early Implementation of Urban Water Use Efficiency Requirements

Jan 4, 2024 - Offering Rebate and Incentive Programs. Many water suppliers offer rebates for participating in conservation programs. For example, to reduce indoor water use they might offer rebates for replacing older model toilets, showerheads, or other fixtures and appliances with more efficient models.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4823

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

Feb 24, 2025 - CARB has not offered a persuasive explanation for why the Legislature should depart from this traditional approach to setting fee policy. Second, CARB has not provided adequate information over how it would use the proposed new authority.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4980

Frequently Asked Questions About Wildfires in California

Jan 28, 2025 - This post does not explicitly discuss the recent Southern California fires and does not contain new LAO analysis or recommendations, but rather provides background information intended to help offer broader context on the state ’s historical wildfire-related activities, division of roles and responsibilities, and spending.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4952

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

Jan 7, 2025 - Many p ublicly owned utilities also offer NEM programs, but the policies are adopted by their individual boards (rather than CPUC) and thus vary. Adoption of NEM 3.0 Intended to Mitigate Projected Increases in Solar Cost Shift.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4950

The 2024-25 Budget: Sustainable Funding for the Department of Pesticide Regulation

Mar 5, 2024 - For instance, a single tax rate is easier for the state to administer and offers a more predictable revenue stream. It  also is simpler and more predictable for the entities that pay the tax. A flat increase also aligns with the recommendations in the independent contractor ’s report.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4873

The 2024-25 Budget: Insolvency Risks for Environmental and Transportation Special Funds

Feb 27, 2024 - However, such actions would result in a decrease in the level of service the departments would be able to offer, which could affect both public satisfaction (in the case of DMV) and safety (with regard to CHP).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4858

Options for Creating a Forestry Management Training Center

Jan 4, 2022 - Additionally, eight community colleges offer two ‑year degree and/or certificate programs in forestry, and 55 offer them in fire technology or wildland fire technology . (These programs sometimes prepare students to be firefighters, as well as for forest management‑related positions.)
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4487

The 2024-25 Budget: CalFire—Implementation of a 66-Hour Workweek

Mar 19, 2024 - Delaying implementation also could offer other benefits, including providing additional time for the Legislature to consider potential modifications to the proposal (such as alternative ways to address the Fire Captain pipeline challenges) and to gather information on the possible indirect implications (such as on contracts with local agencies).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4886

The 2022-23 Budget: Zero-Emission Vehicle Package

Feb 23, 2022 - For example, the Clean Cars 4 All program in the South Coast offers low ‑ and moderate ‑income households financial support for home EV charging infrastructure. What is the program outreach strategy?
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4561