The California Legislature is back in full swing, with the bill introduction deadline fast approaching in February. Governor Newsom released his final budget recommendation as governor, serving both as a starting point for this year’s budget negotiations, and as a reminder that California will start 2027 with a new governor.

January 9th, 2026 - ClimatePlan is concerned that Governor Newsom’s proposed 2026–27 budget would represent a step backward, making it more difficult and expensive for Californians to live and get where they need to go. 

Last week, the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) released the long-awaited report from the two-year Transit Transformation Task Force (TTTF). Created at the end of 2023, the Task Force was charged with identifying transformative solutions to California’s public transit crisis — solutions that could stabilize operating funding, provide excellent service, and grow ridership. So, how did the task force do?

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) will decide how billions of dollars are spent in 2026 — from roads and transit to bike paths. Their decisions shape whether California’s transportation system supports cleaner, more affordable travel or reinforces car dependency. 

The first year of California’s 2025–2026 legislative session is in the bag. Are we passing the policies and funding the programs needed to align California’s transportation, housing, and land use — and drive down climate pollution? Not quite. ClimatePlan’s Jeanie Ward-Waller sums it up: “It was a mixed bag — we saw some wins, but also real losses. What matters now is that 2026 sets the stage for 2027, when new leadership will shape where California goes next.” Here’s how it went down: the good, the bad, the ugly, and the unknown.