SB 707 Brown Act Provisions Summary
Provisions Effective January 1, 2026
1. Legislative Members – General Requirements and Clarifications #
Provision
Details
Applies To
Section
1.1 Distribute Brown Act to Officials
Local agencies must provide a copy of the Brown Act to all elected and appointed officials serving on legislative bodies, including boards and commissions.
All legislative bodies
54952.7
1.2 Verbal Report on Executive and Department Head Compensation Expands requirement for verbal summary before final action on salaries, salary schedules or fringe benefits to include department heads or similar administrative officers, in addition to local agency executives.
All legislative bodies
54953(d) (3)(A)
1.3 Legislative Body Member May Participate Remotely as Reasonable Accommodation for a Disability A legislative body member may participate remotely in any meeting as a reasonable accommodation for a disability. Must participate on audio/ video unless off-camera needed due to disability; disclose presence of anyone 18+ and relationship. Remote participation counts as in-person attendance for all purposes, including quorum.
All legislative bodies
54953(c)
1.4 Sunset removed from Social Media Communications by Legislative Bodies Removed 54952.2(b)(3) June 1, 2026 sunset. Legislative members may use public social media to share or gather information, but they cannot discuss agency business with each other or respond to one another’s posts about such matters.
All legislative bodies
54952.2 (b)(3)
1.5 “Teleconference” and “Remote Participation” Definitions Adds clarifications to distinguish between types of participation:
“Teleconference” does not include situations where members only watch or listen via webcast or other one-way platforms without interactive discussion or deliberation. “Remote participation” means participation in a meeting by teleconference from a location other than any physical meeting location designated in the meeting notice.
All legislative bodies
54953(e) (2) – (3)
2. Teleconferencing – Just Cause and State of Emergency #
Provision
Details
Applies To
Section
2.1 Consolidate and Expand Standard Alternative Teleconferencing Provisions, including Emergency and “Just Cause” Teleconference Consolidates standard alternative teleconference provisions into 54953.8. Key updates include:
Clarifies requirements for two-way audiovisual or telephonic access and real-time public comment.
Requires remote members and the legal basis for teleconference participation to be listed in minutes.
Requires agencies to provide a list of available meeting locations.
Requires disclosure by members of the presence of other adults in the room and their general relationship.
Adds 54953.8.1 to 54953.8.7 to provide specific rules for specified circumstances, including emergency and just cause.
All legislative bodies
54953.8(b)
2.2 Just Cause Teleconference Requirements
Moves procedures from 54953(f) to 54953.8.3 specifying when “just cause” may be used for teleconferencing.
Maintains same basic conditions: quorum at physical location in the jurisdiction, limits on teleconference meetings allowed per year, notification of need, audio/ video participation required.
Key Updates Include:
Removes legislative body approval for a member to participate remotely for a personal emergency circumstance.
Requires remote members and the legal basis for teleconference participation included in the minutes.
Personal emergency circumstances no longer distinguished from just cause circumstances.
Additional just cause reasons: an immunocompromised family member that requires the member to participate remotely, a physical or family medical emergency or military service that prevents in-person attendance.
Section scheduled to sunset 1/1/2030.
54953.8.3
2.3 State of Emergency Meeting Qualification Provisions Moves procedures from 54953(e) to 54953.8.2 specifying when agency may use state of emergency provisions in a declared state of emergency or local emergency.
All legislative bodies
54953.8.2
3. Teleconferencing – Subsidiary and Multijurisdictional Legislative Bodies #
Provision
Details
Applies To
Section
3.1 Teleconferencing Rules for Eligible Subsidiary Bodies New section governing teleconferencing for subsidiary bodies that serve in an advisory capacity.
The full subsidiary body may meet remotely, provided that a staff member is present at a physical location accessible to the public for participation.
Key requirements include:
Physical Meeting Requirements:
Designate one physical location within the jurisdiction where in-person members and the public may attend.
At least one staff member must be present at the physical location.
Post the agenda at the physical location; posting is not required at remote locations.
Member Participation:
Members must appear on camera during open meetings unless a physical/ mental condition or technological issue prevents it.
If video is disabled due to connectivity, members must announce the reason before turning off the camera.
Elected officials serving on the subsidiary body must comply with Section 54953(b)(3) (i.e., remote location noticed on agenda and open to public, etc.) when participating remotely.
Legislative and Subsidiary Body Approval:
Legislative body that created the subsidiary must approve teleconferencing initially and every six months.
Findings must address consideration of circumstances of the subsidiary body, find that public access would be enhanced, type of remote participation, public notification, and member diversity/ retention.
Following the findings, the subsidiary body must approve the use of teleconferencing before using it.
Legislative body may prohibit teleconferencing at any time.
Interaction with Legislative Body:
Subsidiary body may request to present recommendations to the legislative body.
Legislative body must hold a discussion within 60 days of receiving the request at a regular meeting.
Discussion may not be placed on the consent calendar.
No action on recommendations may occur until the next regular meeting.
Eligibility & Scope:
Advisory-only bodies with no final decision-making authority on legislation, regulations, contracts, licenses, permits, entitlements, grants, or allocation of funds.
Does not have primary subject matter jurisdiction over budgets, elections, police oversight, privacy, public library material access, or taxes, or related spending proposals.
May include elected and non-elected members.
Section currently scheduled to sunset 1/1/2030.
Qualifying advisory subsidiary bodies
54953.8.6
4. Other Public Access / Transparency Updates
#
Provision
Details
Applies To
Section
4.1 Disruptive Behavior – Remote Participation
Section 54957 clarifies the presiding officer authority to remove or limit participation for disruptive behavior explicitly extends to participants attending remotely.
Maintains the same principle as in-person disruption: the presiding officer or designee may remove or limit participation of individuals disrupting a meeting after giving a warning, except in cases involving a true threat of force.
All legislative bodies
54957.95, 54957.96
4.2 Expanded Prohibition on Special Meetings Regarding Salaries for the Legislative Body Expands prohibition not allow special meetings to discuss the legislative body salaries or benefits, in addition to local agency executives).
All legislative bodies
54956(b)
4.3 Removed Website Posting Limitation for Special Meetings Removes the limitation requiring only certain legislative bodies (generally 54952(a) bodies or compensated 54952(b) bodies linked to 54952(a) members) post special meeting agendas on the agency website.
All legislative bodies holding special meetings that have a website 54956(c)
4.4 Public Comment Requirements – Committee Consideration Exceptions Reorganizes and expands provisions for public comment on items previously considered by a committee composed exclusively of legislative body members at a public meeting. Maintains same basic principle: public comment generally does not need to be repeated for items already considered by the committee.
New Provisions Include:
Adds requirement that a quorum of the committee must have participated in person from a single, publicly accessible location within jurisdictional boundaries.
Establishes that the exception does not apply if the committee has primary subject matter jurisdiction over elections, budgets, police oversight, privacy, public library materials or taxes / spending proposals.
All legislative bodies and committees subject to the Brown Act 54954.3(a)
Provisions Effective July 1, 2026
5. Eligible Legislative Bodies
#
Provision
Details
Applies To
Section
5.1 Definition: “Eligible Legislative Body”
Defines “eligible legislative body” to include:
City councils of cities with populations of 30,000 or more.
County boards of supervisors of counties (or city/counties) with populations of 30,000 or more.
City councils in counties with populations of 600,000 or more.
Boards of directors of special districts with an internet website that meet any of these conditions:
Boundaries include an entire county with population ≥600,000 and the district has >200 full-time equivalent employees.
The district has >1,000 full-time equivalent employees.
The district has annual revenues exceeding $400 million (based on the most recent Financial Transaction Report from the California State Controller), adjusted for inflation starting January 1, 2027, and employs over 200 full-time equivalent employees.
All legislative bodies
54953.4(e)(2)
5.2 Definitions: “Two-Way Telephonic Service” and “Two-Way Audiovisual Platform” “Two-way telephonic service” means a telephone service that allows listening and verbal participation without internet access. “Two-way audiovisual platform” means an online platform allowing participants to join via both interactive video and two-way telephonic service.
Eligible Legislative Bodies
54953.4(e)(3) – (4)
5.3 Operative and Sunset Dates for Eligible Legislative Bodies SB 707 requirements for eligible legislative bodies regarding public meetings, remote participation and accessibility become operative on July 1, 2026 and remain in effect until January 1, 2030.
Eligible Legislative Bodies
54953.4(f)–(g)
6. Public Access / Meeting Transparency (Applies to Eligible Legislative Bodies) #
Provision
Details
Applies To
Section
6.1 Mandatory Remote Public Attendance Option
Requires all eligible legislative bodies to include an opportunity for the public to attend via two-way telephonic or two-way audiovisual platform, unless adequate service is not operational.
If service is available only for part of the meeting, remote access must be provided for that portion.
Eligible Legislative Bodies
54953.4(b)(1) (A) (i) (I) (ia)
6.2 Policy on Disruption of Telephonic or Internet Service (Deadline for Adoption: 7/1/2026)
Requires each eligible legislative body to adopt, , a technology disruption policy by July 1, 2026. The policy must provide for recessing, reconvening and the efforts that the body shall make to attempt to restore service.
The legislative body cannot adopt the policy on the consent calendar.
Eligible Legislative Bodies
54953.4(b)(1) (A)(i)(I)(ib)(Ia)
6.3 Procedures for Service Disruption During Meeting
Requires eligible legislative bodies to recess open session for at least one hour, or until service is restored, and attempt in good faith to restore telephonic or internet service if a disruption prevents public access. Closed session may occur during the recess.
Upon reconvening, if service is not restored, the body must make a roll call finding that good faith efforts were made in accordance with the adopted policy and that continuing the meeting outweighs the public interest in remote access.
Eligible Legislative Bodies
54953.4(b)(1) (A)(i)(I)(ib)(Ib) – (Ic)
6.4 Requirements Triggered by Use of Audiovisual Platforms (vs. Telephone Only) If an eligible legislative body opts to provide a two-way audiovisual platform, it must publicly post a call-in option and enable automatic captioning if available or provide a two-way telephonic service for public participation.
Eligible Legislative Bodies
54953.4(b)(1) (A)(ii)
6.5 Equal Opportunity for Remote Public Comment
The public must have access to provide comments via the two-way platform, with the same time allotment as in-person attendees, consistent with Section 54954.3.
Eligible Legislative Bodies
54953.4(b)(1) (B)
6.6 Exemptions from Remote Access Requirements
Mandatory remote public attendance rules do not apply to:
Attending judicial / administrative proceedings to which the agency is a party Inspecting property (topics limited to directly related items) Meeting with federal / state officials on legislative or regulatory issues affecting the local agency over which the officials have jurisdiction Meeting at agency-owned facilities (topics limited to directly related items) Emergency meetings under 54956.5.
Eligible Legislative Bodies
54953.4(b)(1) (A)(i)(II)
7. Language Access and Interpretation (Applies to Eligible Legislative Bodies) #
Provision
Details
Applies To
Section
7.1 Meeting Agenda Translation into “Applicable Languages” Requires eligible legislative bodies to translate and post meeting agendas into all “applicable languages.” Each translation must include instructions in that language for joining the meeting remotely. Posting of translated agendas is required in the traditional Brown Act posting timeframes.
Translation using a digital translation service is acceptable. The translation requirement does not extend to the entire agenda packet.
Eligible Legislative Bodies with “Applicable Languages” 54953.4(c) – (e)
7.2 Public Meetings Information Webpage, Translation into “Applicable Languages,” and Homepage Link Legislative bodies must create and maintain an accessible webpage dedicated to public meetings, that includes or links to: (1) a general explanation of the public meeting process, (2) an explanation of how to provide in-person or remote oral comment or written public comment, (3) a calendar of all public meetings with date/time/location, and (4) a link to posted agendas.
The agency’s homepage must include a prominent link to this public meeting webpage.
The page must be translated into all “applicable languages.” Each translation must be accessible through a prominent direct link on the agency’s homepage.
Translation using a digital translation service is acceptable. The agency is not responsible for the accuracy of translations.
Eligible Legislative Bodies
54953.4(b)(3) (B); 4953.4(c) (1)(B); 549`53.4(c)(2)
7.3 Electronic System for Agenda and Document Requests and Homepage Link Legislative bodies must provide a system to electronically accept and fulfill requests for meeting agendas and documents via email or integrated agenda platform. Information about how to make a request must be accessible via a prominent direct link on the agency’s homepage.
Eligible Legislative Bodies
54953.4(b)(3)
(A)
7.4 Outreach to Underrepresented Groups and Non-English-Speaking Communities Legislative bodies must make reasonable efforts to encourage groups that don’t traditionally participate in meetings to participate. Possible groups include media serving non-English speakers, and good government, civil rights, civic engagement, neighborhood, and community organizations, including those in non-English-speaking communities.
Legislative bodies have broad discretion over meeting outreach requirements and are shielded from legal action for failure to contact any specific group.
Eligible Legislative Bodies
54953.4(b)(3) (C)
7.5 Public Location for Agenda Translations / No Liability Legislative bodies must provide a physical location that is freely accessible to the public, near the location where agendas and translations are posted. The public must be allowed to post additional translations of the agenda in that location.
The agency is not responsible or liable for the content, accuracy, or posting of those translations.
Eligible Legislative Bodies
54953.4(c)(3) – (4)
7.6 Public Interpretation Assistance / Optional Provision / No Liability Eligible legislative bodies must reasonably assist members of the public who wish to translate a meeting or receive interpretation, so long as it is not disruptive.
Assistance may include arranging space for interpreters, allowing extra time for interpretation to occur, or allowing the use of personal equipment or reasonably access facilities to access commercially available interpretation services.
Instructions on how to request assistance must be publicized.
Agencies may also choose to provide interpretation directly but are not required to. Agencies are not liable for the content or accuracy of any interpretation provided.
Eligible Legislative Bodies
54953.4(b)(2) (A)–(C)
7.7 Legislative Findings Encouraging Expanded Language Access States legislative intent that translation of agendas and enhanced language access are necessary for an informed public. Encourages local agencies to go beyond minimum requirements by translating into additional languages, using human translators, and increasing outreach.
Eligible Legislative Bodies
54953.4(a)
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