California SB 707: Your Essential Guide to Brown Act Compliance by July 2026

If you're managing public meetings for a California city, county, or large special district, Senate Bill 707 represents the most comprehensive modernization of the Ralph M. Brown Act since its inception in 1953. With a hard deadline of July 1, 2026, now is the time to audit your current systems and plan your path to compliance.

This isn't just about avoiding legal exposure (though that's certainly part of it). SB 707 recognizes what the pandemic taught us: hybrid meetings done right can dramatically expand civic participation, particularly for working families, people with disabilities, non-English speakers, and residents in geographically dispersed communities.

The bottom line: If your jurisdiction has 30,000+ residents, your meeting infrastructure needs to change. Here's what you need to know:

Who Must Comply? Understanding "Eligible Legislative Bodies"

SB 707 creates a new category called "eligible legislative bodies" subject to enhanced requirements:

• City councils in cities with 30,000+ population
• County boards of supervisors in counties with 30,000+ population
• City councils in any city located in a county with 600,000+ population
• Special district boards serving 200,000+ residents with an existing website

Important: These requirements apply specifically to the primary legislative body—not automatically to every advisory commission or committee, which have separate provisions under the law.

The Five Pillars of SB 707 Compliance

1. Two-Way Public Participation

The law moves beyond passive viewing. You must provide:

✓ A two-way audiovisual platform (like Zoom, Webex, or similar) that allows real-time video, audio, and public comment

✓ A dedicated telephone dial-in line that works without internet access. This is mandatory even if you use video, ensuring broadband equity

✓ Equal speaking time for remote participants compared to in-person attendees

✓ No pre-registration barriers for viewing meetings (though you may require registration for commenting if your platform needs it—just ensure the window stays open through the comment period)

Tech failure protocol: The law requires you to recess for up to one hour if your streaming or phone systems fail, document your good-faith restoration effort, and only then decide whether to adjourn or continue.

2. Accessibility & Disability Accommodations

✓ Real-time automated captioning on all broadcasts (platforms like Zoom and YouTube offer built-in options), several government services providers offer professional grade captioning as well

✓ High-quality audio AND video for board members participating remotely as a reasonable accommodation for disability

✓ ADA-compliant web interfaces meeting WCAG standards for screen readers and assistive technology

Key update: Members with disabilities can now participate remotely without the traditional "all teleconference locations must be public" rule as long as they appear on camera (or are exempt from that requirement due to their disability) and disclose others present in the room.

3. Language Equity & Translation

This is one of the most rigorous new requirements:

The 20% Rule: If 20% or more of your population with limited English proficiency speaks a given language, you must translate:

• Meeting agendas (not full packets)
• Instructions for joining meetings
• Instructions for providing public comment
• Your public meeting webpage

Maximum of three languages if more than three meet the threshold (translate the top three by population)

Digital translation tools (like Google Translate or LLMs) satisfy this requirement

Interpretation support: You must reasonably assist members of the public who want interpretation services, including arranging space for interpreters, allowing extra time, or ensuring access to commercial interpretation services

Legal protection: The law shields agencies from liability for translation accuracy—you're responsible for making the effort, not guaranteeing perfect translation.

4. Public Meeting Webpage Requirements

You must maintain an accessible webpage (one click from your homepage) with:

• Meeting calendar with dates, times, and locations
• Direct links to join meetings remotely
• Clear procedures for public comment and accommodation requests
• Translations of this page in all applicable languages

Think of this as your "meeting hub", the single source of truth for residents trying to engage.

5. Technical Reliability & Disruption Management

Service disruption protocol:

• Recess immediately if streaming/phone systems fail
• Attempt restoration for at least one hour
• Document your good-faith effort via roll call vote
• Only then adjourn or continue in person

Disruption management: Your chair can mute or remove disruptive remote participants after a warning—just like removing someone from a physical meeting room.

Quick compliance checklist (use this to audit your setup)

Platform & Participation

• Two‑way audiovisual platform tested for live public comment.
• Dedicated dial‑in phone number published and tested.
• Remote commenters receive equal time as in‑person speakers.

Accessibility

• Live automated captioning enabled and verified during meetings.
• The public portal meets basic WCAG/screen‑reader standards.
• Procedure to allow remote participation as a disability accommodation.

Language

• Identify applicable languages using local demographic data.
• Post translated agendas and participation instructions (up to three languages).
• Process to reasonably assist with interpretation requests.

Reliability & Policy

• Adopted Service Disruption Policy (recess, restoration attempt, roll‑call documentation).
• Chair controls tested (mute/remove) and disruption protocol in place.
• Public meeting webpage live, accessible, and linked from homepage.

Governance

• Staff training scheduled on remote comment parity and disruption tools.
• Compliance log with dates for tests, policy adoption, and translations.

Common Questions

Q: What if we're a city of 29,500—are we exempt?
A: Yes, unless you're located in a county with 600,000+ residents. Monitor your population—if you cross 30,000, compliance is required.

Q: Do advisory bodies and commissions have the same requirements?
A: No. "Eligible subsidiary bodies" (advisory-only bodies) have more flexibility for remote participation. See Gov. Code § 54953.8.6 for details.

Q: Can we charge for translated agendas?
A: No. Translations must be freely accessible and posted alongside English agendas.

Q: What if our internet goes down mid-meeting?
A: Follow your Service Disruption Policy: recess, attempt restoration for one hour, document the effort, then decide whether to adjourn or continue.
Click here for a customizable SB 707 Service Disruption Policy Template.

Next Steps: Don't Wait Until July 2026

The jurisdictions that will navigate SB 707 most smoothly are starting now:

1. This month: Audit your current platform and identify gaps
2. By Q2 2026: Adopt policies, update webpages, arrange translations
3. By June 2026: Complete staff training and run test meetings
4. July 1, 2026: Full compliance in effect

The clock is ticking. Use the next five months to build infrastructure that doesn't just meet legal minimums, but actually serves your community better.

Need help? Many California cities are evaluating platforms purpose-built for government hybrid meetings that handle video streaming, phone dial-in, live captioning, and multi-language support in a single integrated solution. The right technology partner can turn compliance from a burden into a strategic advantage.

Your residents are ready for meetings that meet them where they are. Is your infrastructure?

This guide is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Consult your city attorney for specific compliance questions.

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