Updating the California Necessities Index

Aug 14, 2025 - First, the new measure should —to the extent feasible —minimize quantitative differences from the old measure. To assess this, we calculate each new measure using data from prior years and calculate the difference between each new measure and the CNI in prior years.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5065

The 2024-25 Budget: Overview of the Federal Fiscal Responsibility Act's Impacts on CalWORKs

Mar 5, 2024 - WINS benefits are considered TANF assistance, as the program is funded with MOE dollars, and households receiving the benefit are included in the state ’s WPR calculations. FRA Set New Rules for Benefits Like WINS.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4877

Contracting with attorneys. [Ballot]

Dec 17, 2025 - Additionally, state law authorizes courts to award reaso nable attorney fees and costs to people who win in certain case types. Proposal Prohibits New Limits on People ’s Ability to Contract With Attorneys.
https://lao.ca.gov/BallotAnalysis/Initiative/2025-027

The 2025-26 Budget: Overview of the Federal CalWORKs Pilot

Feb 21, 2025 - Set New Rules for Programs Like the Work Incentive Nutrition Supplement (WINS) Program. Historically, WINS has used MOE funds to provide certain CalFresh households with additional CalWORKs-funded monthly food benefits of $10.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4978

The 2025-26 Budget: Oversight of Encampment Resolution Funding

Mar 5, 2025 - Encampment resolution is intended to be a “win/win ” both for people living in the encampment (in that they are brought inside with supports they need) and for the general public (which sees the encampment area returned to its original intended purpose, such as a park for recreation).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5007

Updating the California Necessities Index [Publication Details]

Aug 14, 2025 - Recent changes were made to the publication of statistics required to calculate the California Necessities Index, which is used to adjust certain benefit rates and cost-of-living adjustments. In this brief, we provide details on the changes and evaluate alternatives for the index that require only currently available data and conform to the original intent of the index.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5065

California Housing Affordability Tracker (4th Quarter 2025) [EconTax Blog]

Jan 24, 2024 - This dramatic increase has created a stark divide: as of September 2025, 77 percent of California homeowners had mortgage rates below 5 percent, while new buyers face the much higher rate. For an existing homeowner, the financial cost of selling their home with a low-rate mortgage and buying a new one at today 's rates is significant.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/793

California Housing Affordability Tracker (4th Quarter 2025) [EconTax Blog]

Jan 24, 2024 - This dramatic increase has created a stark divide: as of September 2025, 77 percent of California homeowners had mortgage rates below 5 percent, while new buyers face the much higher rate. For an existing homeowner, the financial cost of selling their home with a low-rate mortgage and buying a new one at today 's rates is significant.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/article/Detail/793

The 2024-25 Budget: CalWORKs

Mar 4, 2024 - Currently, WINS costs roughly $25 million annually. Because WINS is an MOE‑funded program, WINS households help California meet its WPR requirements. However, the FRA set new rules for programs like WINS.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4872

Civil lawsuits. [Ballot]

Nov 29, 2021 - Under a contingency fee contract, clients typically pay only if their attorneys win their cases. Attorneys generally pay for up-front litigation costs related to the case (such as court fees and evidence collection costs) and receive a percentage of the money that their client receives after settling or winning the case.
https://lao.ca.gov/BallotAnalysis/Initiative/2021-029