SB 707 (Durazo), signed into law by the Governor on October 3, 2025, implements the most sweeping set of Brown Act amendments in decades. In particular, the new amendments re-structure and add new requirements to the Brown Act’s already complex scheme for remote participation at meetings both by members of a legislative body and by members of the public. Some of these new requirements may be difficult for some agencies to implement and there may be as many questions as new answers.
Most provisions take effect January 1, 2026. The new “eligible legislative body” requirements begin July 1, 2026.
Key Changes
- Traditional Teleconferencing Rules Remain
- The original Brown Act teleconferencing rules, which require agendas at each location and public access to every remote site, remain largely intact.
- Alternative Teleconferencing Rules Extended and Modified
- The temporary pandemic-era alternatives (AB 2449 “just cause” rules and AB 361 emergency circumstances rules) are revised and consolidated into a new framework.
- New Categories of Bodies Covered under Alternative Teleconferencing Rules
- Subsidiary bodies (i.e., community or citizens advisory committees, possibly among others) may now use alternative teleconferencing, but only if they meet a host of new requirements.
- Certain multijurisdictional bodies such as Joint Powers Authorities are subject to slightly different requirements than other agencies.
- New Obligations for “Eligible Legislative Bodies”
- Beginning July 1, 2026, many cities, counties, and special districts must comply with additional public access and outreach requirements, including:
- Providing two-way remote access with captioning and call-in options
- Translating agendas into specified languages
- Maintaining a dedicated public meetings website
- Expanding outreach to community and media organizations
Why This Matters
As amended by SB 707, the Brown Act now imposes layered and highly fact-specific rules that vary depending on the size, structure, and type of agency. Every public agency will need to analyze the new rules in order to understand which framework applies, what obligations attach, and how to implement new procedures.
Because the new rules are complicated and highly fact specific, agencies should not assume existing practices will carry over.
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