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March 6, 2026 - In this post, we assess the Governor's California Highway Patrol budget proposals for (1) equipment and operating costs and (2) capital outlay projects.
March 5, 2026 - Presented to: Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 5 on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor and Transportation
February 27, 2026 - This brief summarizes the history, costs, and current status of the state’s effort to deploy a Next Generation 911 system and assesses the administration’s proposal to abandon the existing regional approach in favor of a statewide model. It also offers recommendations regarding legislative oversight of this project and the long-term governance of the state’s 911 system.
February 11, 2026 - In this post we assess the Governor’s request for permanent funding for the Cannabis Control Appeals Panel.
December 2, 2025 - As required by Chapter 80 of 2020 (SB 588, Archuleta), this brief reviews California’s Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) program. Specifically, it focuses on policies and practices designed to prevent program abuse and noncompliance.
October 16, 2025 - This post discusses features of the state's spending plan that were not covered elsewhere in the 2025-26 Spending Plan series.
August 20, 2025 - Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 7 on Accountability and Oversight
April 10, 2025 - In this report, we describe how the Legislature has delegated some of its core powers to allow the Governor to exercise emergency authorities during a state of emergency. Next, we assess the degree to which this is necessary to facilitate emergency response and whether there are adequate oversight mechanisms in place. Finally, we make various recommendations intended to allow the Legislature to exercise more of its core powers and ensure there is adequate oversight of the Governor during emergencies.
April 3, 2025 - In this post, we assess administration-proposed trailer bill language that would increase certain fees charged by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation and make recommendations to help ensure the department has the resources it needs to meet its oversight and regulatory mission.
March 19, 2025 - In this post, we assess key drivers of the structural imbalance of the Department of Real Estate’s primary source of funding—the state Real Estate Fund—and make recommendations to help ensure solvency.
March 18, 2025 - The Governor’s budget includes several proposals under the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). In this post we evaluate and provide recommendations for three of these proposals: California Competes Grants, California Regional Initiative for Social Enterprises Grant Program, and CHIPS.
March 11, 2025 - This post contains assessments and recommendations related to two proposed budget augmentations: the College Corps program and a new Belonging Campaign.
March 7, 2025 - This post provides issues for legislative consideration, as well as questions for the Legislature to ask, ahead of an expected May Revision budget proposal to fund development and implementation of the California State Payroll System information technology project.
February 25, 2025 - Presented to: Joint Legislative Budget Committee
February 25, 2025 - In this post, we provide background on state agencies in California government in general; the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing (BCSH) Agency, in particular; and the process for reorganizing state government. Next, we describe our understanding, based on discussions with the administration and available information at this time, of the Governor’s intent to reorganize BCSH. We conclude by providing key considerations for the Legislature when evaluating the Governor’s proposal when it is received in the Spring.