SB 707 Expands and Modernizes Open Meeting and Teleconferencing Requirements under the Ralph M. Brown Act

Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 707 (Durazo) into law on October 3, 2025. SB 707 makes extensive updates to the Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code section 54950 et seq.), the primary open meeting law governing local agency legislative bodies. The legislation both restores and restructures various provisions set to expire in 2026, makes permanent certain transparency-related reforms, and establishes new requirements to enlarge public access and participation in local government proceedings.

The Brown Act generally requires all meetings of a legislative body of a local agency to be open and public, and it prohibits the body’s members from taking action outside an authorized meeting. SB 707 significantly revises these provisions to take into consideration the technological and accessibility changes these recent years.

Among many technical changes, SB 707 repeals the expiration date in Government Code section 54952.2, thereby permanently allowing members of a legislative body to use internet-based social media platforms to engage with the public on matters within their jurisdiction, so long as they do not deliberate or discuss business among themselves on such platforms. Government Code section 54952.7 now also mandates the local agency to provide a copy of the Brown Act provisions to any serving members on the legislative body of the local agency.

Additionally, the legislation permanently amends the traditional teleconferencing provision, Government Code section 54953, to codify accessibility accommodations and expand teleconferencing options. Members of a legislative body with disabilities may now participate in meetings remotely as a reasonable accommodation. These members must participate using both audio and video technology unless their disability requires an exception. They must also disclose whether any other individuals over the age of eighteen are present in the room in their remote location and the general nature of their relationship to those individuals. Participation by members under these circumstances is deemed equivalent to in-person attendance for all legal purposes, including the quorum requirements. This amendment to Section 54953 appears to codify the California Attorney General opinion, discussed more in this Alert.

What “Eligible Legislative Bodies” Need to Do under SB 707: Audiovisual Teleconferencing, Translation, and Community Outreach

Perhaps the most significant addition in SB 707 is the new Government Code section 54953.4, which imposes broad new requirements on “eligible legislative bodies” to promote public accessibility, language equity, and community outreach in local governance. Eligible legislative bodies include city councils and county boards of supervisors in jurisdictions with populations of 30,000 or more, as well as large special districts meeting certain thresholds regarding full-time equivalent employees and annual revenues. The statutory definition of “eligible legislative bodies,” at this time, does not include school districts.

Operative starting on July 1, 2026, eligible legislative bodies must provide the public with the ability to attend all open and public meetings via a two-way telephonic service or two-way audiovisual platform (e.g., Zoom). Each eligible legislative body must also adopt, at a noticed public meeting, a written policy for responding to disruptions in the telephonic or internet service that prevent public members from attending or observing the meeting. In the event of such a disruption, the body must recess its open session and engage in a good-faith attempt to restore service. The session must stay in recess for at least an hour or until the disruption has been addressed and remedied, whichever is earlier.

The new Section 54953.4 further requires the translation of meeting agendas and public meeting webpages into all “applicable languages,” which is generally defined as languages spoken jointly by 20% percent or more of the relevant population that speaks English less than “very well,” as determined by data from the American Community Survey.

Under Section 54953.4, local agencies must also take reasonable steps to encourage participation by residents who have not traditionally engaged in public meetings, including outreach to community-based and non-English-speaking organizations, and ensuring that requests for agendas and documents can be made electronically.

In recognition of these stringent requirements imposed by this new section, the legislation does afford local agencies protection by prohibiting any actions to be commenced against a local agency regarding the content or accuracy of any translation or the purported failure to engage in community outreach under Section 54953.4.

Alternative Teleconferencing Provisions

SB 707 also substantially reorganizes and expands the Brown Act’s teleconferencing framework through new Sections 54953.8 through 54953.8.7. These provisions create a unified structure of remote participation and teleconferencing as an alternative and in addition to the traditional teleconferencing provision under section 54953. For clarity, the teleconference framework through the new Sections 54953.8 through 54953.8.7 are not limited to “eligible legislative bodies” but are for all legislative bodies of local agencies to use. 

Teleconferencing under Section 54953, sometimes referred to as the Traditional Teleconferencing Rules, remains available for members of a legislative body. Under Section 54953, at least a quorum of the members of the legislative body must be present within the jurisdictional boundaries of the local agency during a teleconference meeting. Any teleconferencing location is also required to be accessible to the public.

The new alternative teleconferencing provisions, under section 54953.8, authorize teleconferencing, under limited and specific circumstances, without the traditional quorum and location requirements. Depending on the type of local agency, different quorum, location, and public accessibility requirements may be imposed. The relevant provisions also expanded the list of “just cause” that permits members to participate remotely for reasons including, but not limited to, childcare responsibilities, illness, family medical emergencies, or military service.

Teleconferencing Disruption Rules Officially Codified

Finally, SB 707 updates the enforcement provisions relating to meeting decorum and disruptions. Through new Section 54957.96, the legislation expressly affirms that local agencies may remove or restrict participation by individuals engaging in disruptive behavior during teleconferenced or hybrid meetings, ensuring that the orderly conduct of public meetings is maintained even in virtual settings.

SB 707 represents a significant modernization of California’s open meeting laws. The legislation seeks to balance technological flexibility with transparency and public access. Given the nuanced technical changes, this Alert is not intended to be exhaustive of all changes or amendments in SB 707. We strongly recommend any local agencies subject to the Brown Act consult with legal counsel to ensure future compliance and readiness with the Act’s expanded requirements.

Thanks to our FCPPG post-bar law clerk, Benjamin Chen, for his extensive work on this alert.