Los Angeles Area Lawmakers Outline Funding Wishlist

A coalition of state lawmakers representing Los Angeles County has released a list of the priorities they hope to see funded in the 2026-27 budget cycle.

The group of 37 state lawmakers from across Los Angeles County announced their support for a range of regional projects last week at a press conference. And while not all of those projects were explicitly IT-focused, many will have technological components that could prove lucrative for the right vendors.

Among the many priority items outlined are calls for new technology and technology-adjacent projects, many of which center on infrastructure upgrades ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and recovery efforts for the 2025 wildfires that devastated several communities in the county.

For context, the city has been selected to host the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which have been a significant driver for infrastructure improvement, accessibility changes and regional security enhancements.

These preparations for the big, international events are where vendors could see the most opportunities.

Some $520 million would be slated for street and transportation improvements, part of a larger pot of $735.9 million, with $20 million slated for mobility and safety improvements. In a similar vein, the group is seeking $379.3 million for “transit-first” improvements that include regional traffic management system enhancements, first/last mile access enhancements and demand management strategies.

The coalition is also prioritizing more than $1 billion in funding for health and homelessness work, requesting more than $500 million annually to “restore the state’s share of Medi-Cal inpatient costs for public hospitals,” and another $500 million for the seventh round of Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP). The latter initiative also includes a request for $1 billion in ongoing funds to sustain these efforts. And finally, the group is asking for $10 million to establish a "centralized L.A. County Rebuild Authority to coordinate wildfire recovery efforts."

The delegation’s priorities also included $100 million for wildfire recovery efforts, including a combined $10 million for the Altadena Library and Palisades Branch Library. The remainder of the requested funding would go toward soil testing and remediation, smoke-damage safety standards, and stabilizing the water systems in affected areas.

While these priorities were surfaced by lawmakers, there is no guarantee that the support or money will materialize in the budget-making process. For industry, keeping an eye on the region for emerging opportunities surrounding this funding could be a good idea.