The existing emergency teleconference rules are expiring. On October 3, 2025, the Governor signed Senate Bill 707, which, among other revisions to the Ralph M. Brown Act, extends and expands the teleconference rules. Key provisions are the standardization of audio and visual teleconferencing rules. Each legislative body that uses teleconferencing will need to provide two-way audiovisual or telephonic access and a live webcast that lets the public both see and hear the meeting. It also requires that a legislative body record in its minutes the names of members who participate remotely and the specific law that authorizes each member’s remote participation. Each local agency must identify and make available meeting locations for use by legislative bodies. It also clarifies that members with disabilities may participate remotely as a reasonable accommodation and do not have to have their camera on if their disability does not allow them to. Additionally, for purposes of meeting the quorum requirements, a member participating via teleconference as a reasonable accommodation is considered to participate within the legislative body’s jurisdiction.
SB 707 redefines “teleconference” to exclude situations where members only watch or listen through non-interactive media. SB 707 requires all legislative bodies to post special meeting notices on their websites and establishes uniform emergency meeting procedures across all local agencies. It also expands the definition of “just cause” to include child care and military service amongst the qualifying reasons. The bill applies these provisions to neighborhood councils, student body associations, student-run community college organizations, and certain subsidiary or multijurisdictional bodies. These bodies must maintain at least one (1) physical location where the public can attend, observe, and participate. Presiding officers will have the authority to remove disruptive individuals from both in-person and teleconferenced meetings.