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

Feb 10, 2026 - Take Steps to Address the Budget Condition Given the fiscal challenges facing the state, the Legislature may need to take additional actions within the environment ‑related section of the budget beyond just considering the proposals included in the Governor ’s budget.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5116

The 2025-26 Budget: May Revision Trailer Bill Proposals on the Delta Conveyance Project and Water Quality Control Plans

May 27, 2025 - Key Questions for Legislative Consideration The proposed statutory changes raise important issues we recommend the Legislature consider carefully and deliberately before taking action. While certain aspects of this proposal may offer benefits, they also could result in unintended consequences.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5053

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

Mar 2, 2026 - (For example, we suggest careful consideration of providing CEQA exemptions to ensure that an adequate amount of environmental review will still occur.) Such amendments offer the potential for the state to increase the efficiency of the permitting and enforcement processes.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5144

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

Jan 7, 2025 - Typically, the first step that rate ‑setting entities take is to determine the amount of money the utility should be allowed to recover through rates to support the main components of the electricity system and other activities.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4950

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

Mar 18, 2026 - Incidental Take Permits (State). Under the California Endangered Species Act, water users may need an incidental take permit from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. These permits often include conditions —such as diversion limits or implementing habitat improvements —to minimize the incidental “take ” (killing or harm) of state ‑listed threatened or endangered species.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5163

The 2021-22 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget

Jan 10, 2021 - The Governor proposes $750  million for the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to provide grants to counties for the acquisition and rehabilitation of properties to expand behavioral health treatment resources.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4309

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

Feb 10, 2026 - In our view, CPUC could take a simple approach to implementing AB  1207 ’s changes to the California Climate Credit. For example, CPUC could elect to only change the specific months in which the credits are provided —switching them from April and October to four typically high-billed months (such as June, July, August, and September).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5120

The 2025-26 Budget: Proposition 4 Spending Plan

Feb 12, 2025 - Nevertheless, the multiyear approach does have some important trade ‑offs that warrant careful  consideration. Potential advantages of adopting a multiyear spending plan include: Supports implementation of a more coordinated, longer ‑term strategy.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4958

The 2022-23 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget

Jan 13, 2022 - Business tax incentives must be carefully designed to be effective. Some past business incentives have been ineffective and provided large windfall benefits to businesses for actions they already had decided to take.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4492

The 2022-23 Budget: Water and Drought Response Proposals

Jan 31, 2022 - The best time to address water shortages is before they occur, as the most effective water supply, infrastructure upgrade, and habitat enhancement projects generally take significant time to plan and implement.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4509