September 16, 2025. As noted in CalHR’s October 1, 2024 HR Announcement (Travel Program – Updated Meal and Lodging Rates and Related Policy Effective for Travel on or after October 1, 2024), the State adopted the following maximum rates established by the federal General Services Administration (GSA):
- Standard meal and incidental expense (M&IE) rate for in-state and out-of-state travel (actual expenses up to $68).
- Standard lodging rate for in-state and out-of-state travel (actual expenses up to $110).
- Non-standard lodging rates for in-state and out-of-state travel (actual expenses up to the applicable rate provided in the “Lodging Reimbursement Rates – Effective for Travel on or after October 1, 2024” language in CalHR Manual Section 2203 [Allowances and Travel Reimbursements]).
On August 19, 2025, the GSA announced in Federal Register Notice MA-2025-18 (Maximum Per Diem Reimbursement Rates for the Continental United States [CONUS]) that the GSA is maintaining their federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 (October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025) rates for federal FY 2026 (October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026).
CalHR has updated CalHR Manual Section 2203 (Allowances and Travel Reimbursements) and CalHR’s Travel Program – Frequently Asked Questions accordingly.
Change: To see this and other recent human resources announcements, please visit our HR Announcements web page.