COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Donna G. Schwartz, Chief Deputy City Clerk
DATE: April 7, 2026
SUBJECT: Update on Senate Bill 707 (SB 707) Amendments to the Ralph M.
Brown Act and Implementation Status
Description:
The City Council will receive an informational update regarding implementation of SB 707 amendments to the Ralph M. Brown Act.
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive and file an informational update regarding SB 707 amendments to the Ralph M.
Brown Act and the City’s implementation status.
BACKGROUND:
SB 707, enacted in 2025, amends the Ralph M. Brown Act to modify and clarify requirements related to remote participation, teleconferencing, and meeting procedures for legislative bodies. Certain provisions bec ame effective January 1, 2026, with additional requirements effective July 1, 2026.
SB 707 was adopted to refine and standardize meeting practices while maintaining transparency and public access to local government meetings. This legislation impacts City Council as well as City of Santa Maria’s boards, commissions, and committees subject to the Brown Act.
SB 707 amends numerous provisions of the Brown Act and places new restrictions, expectations and duties upon legislative bodies. The amendments dist inguish between provisions that apply to all Brown Act bodies and additional requirements that apply only to “Eligible Legislative Bodies” (ELB).
The most significant changes will apply to any ELB which is defined as follows:
A city council of a city with a population of 30,000 or more A board of supervisors of a county, or a city and county, with a population of 30,000 or more
A city council of a city located in a county with a population of 600,000 or more, and
2 A board of directors of large special districts meeting certain thresholds based on boundary areas, population, number of employees and/or revenues.
The City Council meets the definition of an “Eligible Legislative Body” under SB 707 because Santa Maria is a city with a population of 30,000 or more. Accordingly, the City Council must comply with these additional requirements.
DISCUSSION:
Key Requirements Under SB 707
Most updates to the Brown Act under SB 707 became effective on January 1, 2026. Those that specifically apply to ELBs will take effect on July 1, 2026. Further, some provisions will expire on January 1, 2030, unless later extended by the Legislature.
Effective January 1, 2026
Each elected/ appointed member of a Brown Act (legislative) body mu st be given a copy of the Brown Act.
Each elected/ appointed member of a Brown Act (legislative) body mu st be given a List of Meeting Locations.
AB 922 becomes permanent – Use of social media, was set to expire June 1, 2026, but is now permanent.
Allows elected/ appointed members of a Brown Act (legislative) body to appear remotely as a reasonable accommodation - ADA Access.
Just Cause Teleconference Requirements – Clarifies when “just cause” may be used for teleconferencing and adds additional “just cause” reasons.
o Maintains same basic conditions: quorum at physical location in the jurisdiction, limits on teleconference meetings allowed per year, notification of need, and audio/video participation required.
o Removes the requirement that the legislative body formally approve a member’s request to participate remotely due to a qualifying “just cause” circumstance.
o Requires that the minutes refle ct which member participated remotely and the applicable statutory basis for remote participation. Disclosure of medical diagnoses, disabilities, or other confidential information is not required. o Additional “just cause” reasons:
An immuno-compromised family member that requires the member to participate remotely.
A physical or family medical emergency or
Military service that prevents in person attendance.
3 Verbal Report on executive and department head compensation. Expands the existing requirement for a verbal summary prior to final action on salaries, salary schedules, or fringe benefits to explicitly include department heads and similar administrative officers, in addition to local agency executives.
Committee Exception to public comment requirement – expands provisions around public comment for items previously considered by a committee composed exclusively of legislative body members at a public meeting where the public was allowed to speak.
Eligible Subsidiary Body- Allows a full subsidiary body that serves in an advisory capacity to meet remotely, provided that a staff member is present at a physical location accessible to the public for participation. The legislative body that created the subsidiary body (most likely the City Council) must approve teleconferencing initially and every six months. This option is only available for advisory bodies with no final decision-making authority on legislation, regulations, contracts, licenses, permits, entitlements, grants, or allocation of funds. The subsidiary body must also not have primary subject matter jurisdiction over budgets, elections, police oversight, p rivacy, public library material access, or taxes, or related spending proposals. Given the complexity of the statutory requirements, limited applicability, and the recent implementation of SB 707, staff does not recommend initiating Eligible Subsidiary Body teleconferencing authorization at this time.
Effective on or before July 1, 2026 (shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030)
Adoption by the City Council of a Policy on Disruption of Telephonic or Internet Service – the policy must be adopted in open session.
Two-Way Telephone or Two -Way Audio -Visual platform . Requires eligible legislative bodies (City Council) to provide a two -way telephonic or audio -visual platform that allows members of the public to provide public comment and receive the same allotted time as in-person speakers.
Outreach to encourage participation : Requires eligible legislative bodies (City Council) to:
o Conduct outreach to encourage participation from underrepresented and non-English-speaking communities
o Electronically accept requests for meeting agendas and related documents
o Provide a prominent direct link on the City’s primary homepage explaining how to request materials
o Maintain a webpage dedicated to public meetings that includes:
A general explanation of the public meeting process
Public comment procedures
A calendar of meeting dates, times, and locations
4 City Council Meeting Agenda and Website Translation requirements – Defines “applicable languages” as languages spoken by at least 20% of the population within the jur isdiction, as determined by the most recent American Community Survey, where 20% or more of those individuals speak English less than “very well.”
Members of the Public May Post Their Own Translation of City Council Agendas on a readily available posting board made available by the agency.
Teleconferencing
All City appointed boards, commissions, and committees (any and all Brown Act bodies) remain authorized to attend meetings remotely under existing Brown Act provisions.
Below are the options available to appear remotely:
Traditional Brown Act teleconferencing (Gov. Code § 54953(b) Member with a disability may appear rem otely as a reasonable accommodation (Gov. Code § 54953(c)
Emergency teleconferencing, when applicable (Gov. Code § 54953.8.2) Just-cause teleconferencing, when applicable (Gov. Code § 54953.8.3) Teleconferencing for an eligible multijurisdictional body (Gov. Code § 54953.8.7)
IMPLEMENTATION STATUS
The City Clerk’s Office is leading implementation efforts and has:
Engaged a consultant to assist with statutory interpretation and implementation best practices
Begun reviewing and updating meeting procedures, internal guidelines, and templates
Distributed Brown Act copies to all Councilmembers and appointed members of boards, commissions, and committees.
Distributed List of Meeting Locations to all Councilmembers and appointed members of boards, commissions, and committees.
Developed draft meeting disruption policy to address any technology-disruption procedures aligned with SB 707
Initiated internal coordination with the City Manager’s Office, City Attorney, Communications, and Information Technology
5 NEXT STEPS
Staff’s implementation of SB 707 represents a significant procedural shift for eligible legislative bodies. Staff are prioritizing compliance while ensuring operational practicality and continuity of public access.
Upcoming implementation milestones include:
Finalization of updated procedures and internal guidance Training and informational materials for Council, boards, commissions, and staff Further Council updates as July 1, 2026, requirements approach A future staff report summarizing full compliance measures once all requirements are in effect
Council will continue to receive updates as milestones are reached and as additional guidance becomes available.
Fiscal Considerations
Future implementation costs, including potential website upd ates, translation services, and technology upgrades, are currently being evaluated and will be brought forward as needed.
Impact on the Community
SB 707 enhances transparency, consistency, and accessibility in public meetings. By clarifying remote partic ipation standards, establishing procedures for technological disruptions, and expanding outreach and translation requirements, the legislation strengthens public access and promotes greater civic participation. These updates support public trust by ensuring meetings remain predictable, open, and accessible.
ATTACHMENT(S) - None