SB 707 “Applicable Languages” Determination Guide and Worksheet (Gov. Code § 54953.4(e)(1))
Disclaimer: This resource is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is not a substitute for review by agency counsel. Agencies should consult their own legal counsel to confirm applicability, interpret statutory requirements, and ensure compliance with SB 707 and related laws.
CMCA Legisla�ve Program ǀ [email protected] 1/7/2026 ǀ Page 1 of 6 Purpose
To identify SB 707 “applicable languages” using the most recent ACS language and English proficiency data (Table B16001 or C16001).
Start Here (How to Use This Guide)
1. Open the worksheet on page 4 now.
2. Follow Steps 1–6 and fill out the matching worksheet sec�on (STEP __) as you go.
3. If you select “None of the above (no further analysis required)” in Worksheet Step 1, stop—you’re done.
4. Keep your downloaded ACS table open while comple�ng Worksheet Steps 2–5.
Note about the population number used: ACS Tables B16001 and C16001 only include people age 5 and older. To maintain consistency in the math, this worksheet uses the B16001 or C16001 total (age 5 +) as the “applicable population.” If you instead used the population described in 54953.4(e)(1)(B) (e.g., entire city population, which would include children under 5), the percentages could be slightly lower. Agencies should consult with their legal counsel to confirm this approach.
Step 1: Determine if the Legisla�ve Body is an “Eligible Legisla�ve Body” If the legisla�ve body meets the defini�on of an “eligible legisla�ve body,” con�nue to Step 2.
“Eligible legisla�ve body” means any of the following:
A. A city council of a city with a popula�on of 30,000 or more.
B. A county board of supervisors of a county, or city and county, with a popula�on of 30,000 or more.
C. A city council of a city located in a county with a popula�on of 600,000 or more.
D. The board of directors of a special district that has an internet website and meets any of the following condi�ons:
i. The boundaries of the special district include the en�rety of a county with a popula�on of 600,000 or more, and the special district has over 200 full-�me equivalent employees. ii. The special district has over 1,000 full-�me equivalent employees. iii. The special district has annual revenues, based on the most recent Financial Transac�on Report data published by the California State Controller, that exceed four hundred million dollars ($400,000,000), adjusted annually for infla�on commencing January 1, 2027, as measured by the percentage change in the California Consumer Price Index from January 1 of the prior year to January 1 of the current year, and the special district employs over 200 full-�me equivalent employees.
If the legislative body is not an “eligible legislative body,” it does not qualify, and no further analysis is required.
SB 707 “Applicable Languages” Determina�on Guide and Worksheet
CMCA Legisla�ve Program ǀ [email protected]
1/7/2026 ǀ Page 2 of 6
Step 2: Identify the Legislative Body Type and Select the Area to Use in ACS Iden�fy what kind of eligible legisla�ve body you are and select the area you will use for the ACS table, consistent with Gov. Code § 54953.4(e)(1)(B).
• City council → use the city (place)
• County board of supervisors → use the county
• Special district → choose one of the following (by board discre�on):
a. Use the county with the greatest popula�on within the district boundaries, OR b. Use the district’s service area (only if the district has reliable service-area language data)
Note: You will enter the “Applicable Popula�on” number in the worksheet using the ACS B16001 or C16001 “ Total:” es�mate for the area selected above (see Step 4).
Special districts: If the board selects the ‘county with the greatest popula�on within district boundaries’ op�on, use ACS B16001 or C16001 in Step 3 for that county as the applicable geography. If the board selects ‘service area,’ the district must use reliable service-area language data (ACS may not provide service-area boundaries directly).
Step 3: Obtain Language Data
Use language and English-proficiency data from the most recent ACS, typically ACS 5-year es�mates:
1. Visit htps://data.census.gov/
2. In the search bar, type: “B16001 [your city/county/area]” (or, if B16001 isn’t available, “C16001 [your city/county/area]”). Example: “C16001 Chula Vista, California”
Note (B16001 vs. C16001): Try B16001 first. If a recent B16001 is not available for your city/county/area, use C16001 instead for the same area and ACS release. C16001 is less detailed and may combine languages into broader categories. If a combined category meets (or is close to) the 20% threshold and you need to iden�fy a specific language, consult addi�onal Census/ACS materials for more detail, consider an alterna�ve data source (with the required finding), and/or consult legal counsel.
3. Click the result that shows the table �tle: “Language Spoken at Home…” a. Click the Filters icon (le� page column) and ensure the Dataset is the ACS 5-year es�mates using the most recent year
b. Geography: confirm it’s your city/county (or add it if needed)
4. Use the Download icon (across the top) to download the data to Excel or CSV
Agencies may use an alternative data source only if they formally determine, based on substantial evidence, that it is equally or more reliable than the ACS for their jurisdiction.
Step 4: Iden�fy Languages Spoken by 20% or More of the Applicable Popula�on From the ACS B16001 or C16001 data downloaded in Step 3:
1. Click the “Data” tab (it may not open automa�cally). In the first row labeled “Total:” copy the value under the “Es�mate” column and enter it as the Applicable Popula�on in the worksheet.
2. Iden�fy any language(s) spoken by 20% or more of that applicable popula�on.
Languages spoken by fewer than 20% of the applicable population do not qualify and may be excluded from further analysis.
SB 707 “Applicable Languages” Determina�on Guide and Worksheet
CMCA Legisla�ve Program ǀ [email protected]
1/7/2026 ǀ Page 3 of 6
Step 5: Apply the English Proficiency Test
For each language that meets the 20% threshold in Step 4, determine whether 20% or more of people who speak that language speak English less than “very well.”
Note: Use the ACS es�mate for “less than very well” where provided. If the table provides separate categories, sum “well,” “not well,” and “not at all” (i.e., all categories other than “very well”).
Only languages that meet both condi�ons qualify:
1. ≥ 20% of the applicable popula�on speaks the language, and
2. ≥ 20% of that language group speaks English less than “very well.”
If either condition fails, the language is excluded.
Step 6: Limit to the Top Three Languages (If Necessary) • If three or fewer languages meet the criteria → all are “applicable languages.” • If more than three languages meet the criteria → select the three languages spoken by the largest percentage of the applicable popula�on.
Step 7: Document the Determina�on (Best Prac�ce)
Prepare a short internal memo or staff report that includes:
• Date of analysis
• Eligibility determina�on (Step 1)
• Type of legisla�ve body and selected geography (Step 2) • Data source used (ACS vintage and table, or alterna�ve source and the suppor�ng finding) • Calcula�ons for each qualifying language
• Final list of applicable languages (including top three selec�on if applicable)
Con�nue to the worksheet on Page 4.
SB 707 “Applicable Languages” Determina�on Guide and Worksheet CMCA Legisla�ve Program ǀ [email protected]
1/7/20 26 ǀ Page 4 of 6
Applicable Languages Determina�on Worksheet (SB 707)
A
gency: ______________________________
(
STEP 1)
Eligible Legisla�ve Body ☐ City council of a city with a popula�on of 30,000 or more.
Determina�on: ☐ County board of supervisors of a county, or city and county, with a (Confirm eligibility criteria popula�on of 30,000 or more. against the current codified ☐ City council of a city located in a county with a popula�on of 600,000 or more. text of Gov. Code § 54953.4 Board of directors of a special district that has an internet website and meets any of before finalizing.) the following condi�ons:
☐ The boundaries of the special district include the en�rety of a county with a popula�on of 600,000 or more, and the special district has over 200 full-�me equivalent employees.
☐ The special district has over 1,000 full-�me equivalent employees. ☐ The special district has annual revenues, based on the most recent Financial Transac�on Report data published by the California State Controller, that exceed four hundred million dollars ($400,000,000), adjusted annually for infla�on commencing January 1, 2027, as measured by the percentage change in th e
C
alifornia Consumer Price Index from January 1 of the prior year to January 1 of th
e current year, and the special district employs over 200 full-�me equivalent em
ployees.
☐ N
one of the above (no further analysis required)
(
STEP 2)
Type of Legisla�ve Body: ☐ City Council ☐ County Board of Supervisors ☐ Special District S
pecial Districts ONLY - ☐ Popula�on of the county with the greatest popula�on within the district P
opula�on Used: boundaries
☐ Popula�on of the district’s service area (only if the district has reliable language data for that area)
A
pplicable Popula�on: _______________________________ (From the downloaded ACS B16001 or C16001 table, enter the value in the first row labeled “Total:” under the “Es�mate” column.) T
o keep the calculations consistent, this worksheet uses the ACS Table B16001 or C16001 total (population age 5 and over) as the “applicable population” denominator, so the language counts and population total come from the same ACS table and geography. Using a larger population total that includes residents under age 5 (who are not included in B16001) could lower the calculated percentages and potentially make a language appear below the 20% threshold when it would otherwise qualify.
(
STEP 3)
American Community Survey (ACS) Source Informa�on
ACS release: (e.g., “2023 ACS 5-year”)
ACS table: (e.g., “B16001” or “C16001”)
Geography used: (e.g., “Chula Vista city, California”)
Download date:
San Mateo
97,006
4-23-2026
✔
✔
San Mateo City, California
C16001
2024 AC
SB 707 “Applicable Languages” Determina�on Guide and Worksheet CMCA Legisla�ve Program ǀ [email protected]
1/7/20 26 ǀ Page 5 of 6
(STEPS 4 & 5)
Languages Spoken and Threshold Determina�on
COLUMN A COLUMN B COLUMN C COLUMN D COLUMN E COLUMN F COLUMN G COLUMN H Applicable
Popula�on
Language Es�mated
Number of
Speakers
% of
Applicable
Popula�on
Speak
English Less
Than “Very
Well”
% of
Es�mated
Number of
Speakers
Meets Both
Language
Thresholds
Included in
Top Three
(If Needed)
☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ Yes
☐ No
T
able Comple�on Instruc�ons (see example on the following page):
C
olumn A: Enter the Applicable Popula�on from Step 2. (From the downloaded ACS B16001 or C16001 table, enter the value in the first row labeled “Total:” under the “Es�mate” column.) Column B: Enter the language from the ACS data table downloaded in Step 3.
Column C: Enter the es�mated number of speakers from the ACS data table column �tled “Es�mate.” Column D: Calculate the percentage of speakers of that language from the applicable popula�on. Formula: (Column C/Column A)*100.
If the percentage is less than 20%, the language does not qualify and may be excluded from further analysis.
Column E: Enter the number of speakers from the ACS data table who speak English less than “very well.” In ACS Table B16001 or C16001, “less than very well” means all categories other than “Speaks English very well.” If the table displays separate categories (e.g., “well,” “not well,” “not at all”), sum those categories to obtain Column E.
Column F: Calculate the percentage of that language’s speakers who speak English less than very well. Formula:
(Column E/Column C)*100.
Column G: If both Column D and Column F are 20% or greater, the language meets both thresholds; check Yes.
Otherwise, check No.
Column H: If there are more than three languages that meet both thresholds (i.e., ≥ 20% in both Columns D and F), choose the three languages spoken by the largest percentage of the applicable population (Column D). (
STEP 6)
Applicable Languages: ______________________________ or ☐ None ______________________________
______________________________
P
repared by: ______________________________ Date: ______________________________ 97006
Spanish
19909
8626
43.3%
French
965
1.0%
0.0%
Tagalog
2786
2.9%
0.0%
Russian
1454
1.5%
0.0%
Korean
718
0.7%
0.0%
Chinese
9121
9.4%
0.0%
Spanish
Martin McTaggart
4-23-2026
20.5%
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
SB 707 “Applicable Languages” Determina�on Guide and Worksheet
CMCA Legisla�ve Program ǀ [email protected]
1/7/2026 ǀ Page 6 of 6
EXAMPLE OF COMPLETED TABLE: Languages Spoken and Threshold Determina�on
COLUMN A COLUMN B COLUMN C COLUMN D COLUMN E COLUMN F COLUMN G COLUMN H Applicable
Popula�on
Language Es�mated
Number of
Speakers
% of
Applicable
Popula�on
Speak
English less
than “very
well”
% of
Es�mated
Number of
Speakers
Meets Both
Language
Thresholds
Included in
Top Three
(If Needed)
261,003
(From ACS
B16001 or
C16001
Table Total:
Population 5
years and
over, Line 1)
Spanish
(from ACS
Data Table)
119,622
(from ACS
Data Table)
(119,622/
261,003)*
100=
45.83%
43,898
(from ACS
Data Table)
(43,898/
119,622)*
100=
36.70%
☒ Yes
☐ No
☒ Yes
☐ No
Tagalog 16,225 6.22% N/A N/A ☐ Yes
☒ No
☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ Yes
☐ No