Riverside City Council
July 14, 2026

7/2/2026
1 RiversideCA.gov1
RiversideCA.gov
BROWN ACT REFRESHER2026 UPDATES TO THEBROWNACT/SB707 City CouncilJuly 14, 2026Presented by City Attorney’s Office RiversideCA.gov2
•SB707, entitled “Open meetings: meeting and teleconference requirements,” was signed into law in 2025 •Clarified Brown Act requirements including social media, remote (teleconference) participation, serial meetings and public participationBACKGROUND 7/2/2026
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2026 UPDATESB 707 clarifies rules for permitted informational communications, including limited one-way distribution of factual information, and certain social-media activity. Ban on commenting on another public official’s social media postsEXAMPLE: SB 707 permits City Council members to post factual information on social media or reply individually, but cannot comment on a social media post (both text or emojis)MEETINGS/SOCIAL MEDIA RiversideCA.gov4
2026 CLARIFICATIONOne-way distribution of purely factual information by staff to multiple City Council Members is allowed ONLY IF it does not reveal other City Council Members’ views or facilitate agreement.SERIAL MEETINGS 7/2/2026
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The public has a right to address the City Council at any meeting on any subject that is within the City Council’s subject matter jurisdiction. 2026 UPDATEEligible legislative bodies must also allow remote participation through two-way remote access beginning July 1, 2026. PUBLIC SPEECH RiversideCA.gov6
May require members of the public wishing to address the City Council to fill out a speaker’s card. •The public cannot be required to give names or sign a register as a condition of attendance. 2026 UPDATE: This applies equally to in-person and remote attendees.•Many cities do ask for names and addresses during oral communications in order facilitate staff responses or the preparation of minutes. This practice is certainly allowable if it is identified as being voluntary.PUBLIC SPEECH, Cont’d 7/2/2026
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Example: An elected official is on vacation and wishes to teleconference in from the vacation location1. Agendas must be posted at all teleconference physical locations 2. Each teleconference location must be listed on the meeting notice and agenda3. Each teleconference location must be accessible to the public, allowing for public comment. 4. At least a quorum of the members must participate from locations within the City. 5. All votes must be by roll call (oral, no electronic voting system). Remote Participation/Traditional RiversideCA.gov8
Example: An elected official has an illness and wishes to teleconference in from their residence1. At least a quorum of the members must participate in person2. Notification at the earliest opportunity possible, including at the start of a regular meeting, of need to participate remotely for just cause, including a general description of the “just cause”. 3. Must participate through both audio and visual technology. 4. Limited number of Meetings – “Just Cause” remote participation allowed for five meetings per year5. Meeting Minutes must include the reason to participate remotely. (Not req. to disclose any medical diagnosis, disability, or personal medical information.) Remote Participation/Just Cause 7/2/2026
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REASONS FOR JUST CAUSE/ SB 707 CLARIFICATION•Childcare or caregiving need of a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner •Contagious illness. •A need related to a physical/mental condition that is not a disability. •Travel while on official business of the legislative body or other local agency. •An immunocompromised child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner of the member •A physical or family medical emergency that prevents a member from attending in person. •Military service obligationsRemote Participation/Just Cause RiversideCA.gov10
Reasonable Accommodation (Disability)•City Councilmember with a statutory (ADA) disability may participate remotely.•Must use two-way audio and video•Must disclose adults over 18 present in the remote location.•No limit on number of meetingsRemote Participation (Teleconferencing) Disability 7/2/2026
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That the City Council receive and file this presentation on the 2026 Updates to the Brown Act added by Senate Bill 707 Recommendation