California Senate Bill 707
Modernizing Open Meetings
Patty Rodriguez, City Clerk
December 9, 2025
PURPOSE:
Makes significant changes to the Ralph M. Brown Act (Brown Act), which is California’s main law governing open meetings for local legislative bodies such as the city council, and includes new provisions aimed at strengthening Public Participation.
FOCUS:
Utilizing developing technology
to increase accessibility, expand
teleconferencing opportunities,
provide language translation,
and promote public participation.
HIGHLIGHTS
Beginning July 1, 2026:
Must provide a two-way telephonic
and a live webcast or audiovisual
platform at all open public
meetings. The provisions would
remain in effect through January 1,
2030.
Need to Implement
HIGHLIGHTS
• Beginning July 1, 2026:
• Must translate agendas for each meeting into “applicable languages” (any language spoken jointly by 20 percent or more of an applicable population that also speaks English less than “very well” according to the American Community Survey.
• Must translate the internet webpage dedicated to public meetings into “applicable languages.”
• Must make an agenda posting area publicly available for the public to post translations of the agenda in other languages.
Need to Implement
HIGHLIGHTS
• Beginning July 1, 2026:
• Must orally report a summary of any
recommendation of final action on
compensation for a local agency executives,
department heads or other comparable
administrative officer during an open
meeting at which the final action is to be
taken.
In Compliance
HIGHLIGHTS
• Beginning July 1, 2026:
• A member of the legislative body with a
disability may participate remotely as a
reasonable accommodation, including
participation via audio only if their condition
prevents participation on camera.
Need to Implement
HIGHLIGHTS
• Beginning July 1, 2026:
• Must provide a copy of the Brown
Act to all elected and appointed
members of legislative bodies by
January 1, 2026.
In Compliance
HIGHLIGHTS
• Prior to July 1, 2026:
• Must adopt in open session a policy for
restoring service in the event of a
broadcast disruption.
Need to Implement
Must adopt disruption policies, ensure agendas are
translated (if an eligible body), and update meeting
procedures.
IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CITY
Need to ensure technology platforms are in place
(two-way telephonic/AV) for public meetings.
City may be eligible for reimbursement due to costs incurred for technology upgrades, translation services, policy development.
Senate Bill 90 now includes this requirement; however, the state already owes local municipalities more than $2 billion in mandated reimbursements. With a $30 billion+ projected deficit, the probability of collecting reimbursement for these mandates is minimal.
SUMMARY OF BENEFITS & CHALLENGES
Benefits:
1. Improved public access and participation (remote access, language translation)
2. Modernization of open-meeting laws for contemporary technology
3. More equitable access for underrepresented communities Challenges:
1. Operational costs & tech implementation
2. Training of staff and officials on new rules and procedures
3. Ensuring robust remote participation without losing transparency or accountability
NEXT STEPS / RECOMMENDATIONS
• Inventory current meeting technology and remote access capabilities. • Develop or update policy for disruption of telephonic/internet service – to be adopted by July 1, 2026. • Review agenda translation requirements.
• Review bylaws/meeting procedures to integrate two-way remote participation, teleconferencing rules, and minutes requirements for remote members.
• Plan budget/technology needs.
QUESTIONS & DISCUSSION
Thank You!