California's Little Hoover Commission

Statement from Chair Pedro Nava on the Governor’s 2026–27 housing and homelessness budget: aligning affordable housing programs could improve efficiency and production, but key implementation questions remain.

Read the full statement:

Statement from Little Hoover Commission Chair, Pedro Nava, on the Governor’s 2026-27 Housing and Homelessness Budget Proposal - Little Hoover Commission Governor Newsom’s proposal to align affordable housing programs is a step toward implementing the Commission’s past recommendations for a coordinated and efficient housing finance system, Little Hoover Commission Chair Pedro Nava said. “We’ve looked at the state’s affordable housing progra...

DEADLINE EXTENDED to August 25! Join the Little Hoover Commission as our Research Analyst. Help improve California state government through research and policy work.

Apply now: https://lhc.ca.gov/careers/

📢 How does AI impact state government?

Don’t miss the latest episode of The Maddy Report, airing this Sunday at 5 PM on ABC30!

Tune in as we explore how artificial intelligence is transforming state government operations—from improving services to raising important ethical and policy questions. Special thanks to Pedro Nava, Chair of California's Little Hoover Commission, for sharing his insightful perspective on AI.

Episodes are also available anytime on our YouTube channel!

Today, the Little Hoover Commission held its fourth hearing on California electricity costs. This hearing focused on how the state regulates electricity providers and implements energy policy, and considered options for making electricity more affordable without sacrificing California's green energy goals.

We were joined by Leuwam Tesfai (California Public Utilities Commission), Michael Sokol (California Energy Commission), and Michael Campbell (California Public Advocates Office).

Watch:

Hearing on California Electricity Costs (Part 4) - July 24, 2025 On July 24, 2025, we completed our fourth public hearing on California Electricity Costs. We were joined by: Leuwam Tesfai, Deputy Executive Director for Ene...

Do you have a passion for research and policy work and want to use those tools to improve state government? Join our team as our new Research Analyst!

Learn more and apply today: https://lhc.ca.gov/careers/

California's public-philanthropic partnerships are critical relationships that deserve stronger institutional support, according to a new report released today by the Little Hoover Commission.

"Philanthropies are a critical partner for state government," said Little Hoover Commission Chair Pedro Nava. "Policymakers owe it to their private-sector partners – and to Californians – to make sure that these relationships are as productive as possible."

The report provides recommendations for how the state can better institutionalize and optimize partnerships between government and philanthropy to better serve Californians.

Read ⬇️

https://bit.ly/3SIb9qb

The Little Hoover Commission has released its review of Governor Newsom’s proposal to reorganize state government—creating a California Housing and Homelessness Agency and a Business and Consumer Services Agency. The Commission recommends legislative approval, with strategic improvements to strengthen implementation.

“California doesn’t have enough housing,” said Commission Chair Pedro Nava. “When we do build housing, it’s often too expensive or located far from available jobs. This is a crisis, and Governor Newsom is right to think that state government needs to change so that it can better address this critical issue.”

The Legislature has until July 4 to act; the plan takes effect July 5 unless rejected.

Read the report ⬇️

Governor’s Reorganization Plan 2025 – Little Hoover Commission Governor’s Reorganization Plan 2025 Report #287, May 2025 OVERVIEW Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposal to create a new Housing and Homelessness Agency in California government should be approved, though with additional steps by the Legislature to make the plan more effective, the state’s Little H...

Last week, the Little Hoover Commission held public hearings on Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom's 2025 Reorganization Plan to divide the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency into two new entities: a California Housing and Homelessness Agency and a California Business and Consumer Services Agency.

Study details: https://lhc.ca.gov/report/governors-reorganization-plan-2025/

The first hearing addressed the overall reorganization, as well as the creation of a proposed Housing and Homelessness Agency. Key stakeholders presented across these panels:

Panel 1: Newsom Administration

Tomiquia Moss (Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency)
Gustavo Velasquez (California Department of Housing & Community Development)
Kevin Kish (California Civil Rights Department)
Kimberly Kirchmeyer (Department of Consumer Affairs)

➡️ https://bit.ly/3YTYHa1

Panel 2: Research

Ben Metcalf and Sarah Karlinsky (Terner Center for Housing Innovation, UC Berkeley)
Arnold Sowell Jr. and Brian Weinberger (NextGen Policy)

➡️ https://bit.ly/44NAyFT

Panel 3: Building & Development

Mark Stivers (California Housing Partnership)
Marina Espinoza (California Housing Consortium)

➡️ https://bit.ly/4jZSuBL

Panel 4: Housing & Homelessness Advocates

Chione Flegal (Housing California)
Zeenat Hassan (Disability Rights California)
Lewis Brown Jr. (Corporation for Supportive Housing)

➡️ https://bit.ly/3Gyt5AD

Panel 5: Labor

Susan Rodriguez (SEIU Local 1000)

➡️ https://bit.ly/3Yn6s8j

The second hearing largely focused on the proposed creation of a Business and Consumer Services Agency. Expert panels included:

Panel 1: Local Government

Graham Knaus (California State Association of Counties)

➡️ https://bit.ly/42QsGB7

Panel 2: Research

Rebecca Haw Allensworth (Vanderbilt University)

➡️ https://bit.ly/4iHDvey

Panel 3: Industry (Part I):

Fred Jones (Professional Beauty Federation of California)
Jason Fox (CalCPA)

➡️ https://bit.ly/42QACSV

Panel 4: Industry (Part II):

Sanjay Wagle (CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®)

➡️ https://bit.ly/3EFud4W

Panel 5: Consumers

Robert Herrell (Consumer Federation of California)

➡️ https://bit.ly/42z1sQt

Want to follow along with the Commission’s review? Sign up for our email list: https://lnkd.in/gSApNv3D

Governor’s Reorganization Plan 2025 – Little Hoover Commission Governor’s Reorganization Plan 2025 OVERVIEW Governor Gavin Newsom released a proposed plan reorganizing California State Government to create two new agencies — a California Housing and Homelessness Agency and a Business and Consumer Services Agency. View the Governor’s transmittal letter (PD...

Join the Little Hoover Commission on April 23 and 24 for public hearings on Governor Newsom's 2025 Reorganization Plan to divide the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency into two new entities: a California Housing and Homelessness Agency and a California Business and Consumer Services Agency.

Participate in person at the Ziggurat Building (707 3rd St, West Sacramento) or online via Zoom to learn about and provide input on these proposed changes.

Details on our review: https://lnkd.in/g4QGkEiN

On Day 1 (April 23), we’ll be joined by:

- Tomiquia Moss, Secretary, Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency
- Gustavo Velasquez, Director, California Department of Housing and Community Development
- Kevin Kish, Director, California Civil Rights Department
- Kimberly Kirchmeyer, Director, California Department of Consumer Affairs
- Ben Metcalf, Managing Director, Terner Center for Housing Innovation, UC Berkeley
- Sarah Karlinsky, Research Director, Terner Center for Housing Innovation, UC Berkeley
- Arnold Sowell Jr., Executive Director, NextGen Policy
- Brian Weinberger, Senior Policy Advisor, NextGen Policy
- Mark Stivers, Senior Director of Advocacy, California Housing Partnership
- Marina Espinoza, Policy Director, California Housing Consortium
- Chione Flegal, Executive Director, Housing California
- Zeenat Hassan, Senior Attorney, Civil Rights Practice Group, Disability Rights California
- Lewis Brown Jr., Senior Policy Manager for California State Policy, Corporation for Supportive Housing
- Susan Rodriguez, Chief Negotiator, SEIU Local 1000

Agenda and Zoom access: https://bit.ly/4ipwjDF

On Day 2 (April 24), we’ll be joined by:

- Graham Knaus, Chief Executive Officer, California State Association of Counties
- Rebecca Haw Allensworth, Associate Dean for Research, David Daniels Allen Distinguished Chair of Law, Vanderbilt University
- Fred Jones, Legal Counsel and Advocate, Professional Beauty Federation of California
- Jason Fox, Vice President of Advocacy & Public Affairs, California Society of Certified Public Accountants
- Sanjay Wagle, Senior Vice President of Governmental Affairs, California Association of Realtors
- Robert Herrell, Executive Director, Consumer Federation of California

Agenda and Zoom access: https://bit.ly/4lFGTsX

We hope you can join us!

The Little Hoover Commission has received Governor Newsom's government reorganization plan to create two new state agencies focused on housing & homelessness and business & consumer services.

As California's independent oversight agency, we'll be conducting a thorough, nonpartisan review of this proposal over the coming weeks, including public hearings where stakeholders and residents can provide input.

Our assessment will focus on whether these structural changes will create more effective government and better services for Californians.

Visit our website for the full plan ⬇️

Governor’s Reorganization Plan 2025 – Little Hoover Commission Governor’s Reorganization Plan 2025 OVERVIEW Governor Gavin Newsom released a proposed plan reorganizing California State Government to create two new agencies — a California Housing and Homelessness Agency and a Business and Consumer Services Agency. View the Governor’s transmittal letter (PD...

📣 DEADLINE EXTENDED: Communications & Outreach Analyst

Passionate about communications, policy work, and improving state government? Join our team as our new Communications & Outreach Analyst to lead our government reform communications strategy.

Applicants now have until April 25th to apply!

Apply now: www.lhc.ca.gov/careers

We are thrilled to announce the unanimous re-election of Pedro Nava as Chair and Anthony Cannella as Vice Chair of the Little Hoover Commission. Their continued leadership speaks to their exceptional service. Congratulations to both!

Learn more:

Little Hoover Commission Re-Elects Chair Nava and Vice Chair Cannella – Little Hoover Commission Little Hoover Commission Re-Elects Chair Nava and Vice Chair Cannella The Little Hoover Commission unanimously re-elected Commissioner Pedro Nava as Chair and Commissioner Anthony Cannella as Vice Chair on Thursday, March 27, 2025. This will be Nava’s twelfth consecutive term as Chair and Cannella...