California Municipal Law Blog
category:
Meetings
by Kelly M. Doyle on March 18, 2026
posted in
Administrative Regulations, Brown Act, Legislative Updates, Meetings, Municipal Law,
Recognizing the utility of employing online meeting platforms for public meetings under the Ralph M. Brown Act, California’s open meeting law, lawmakers recently approved legislation that would require certain public agencies to provide the public with both online and telephonic options at public meetings, among other requirements. This legislation, Senate Bill 707 (María Elena Durazo, D-Los Angeles), aims to modernize the Brown Act’s teleconferencing provisions while expanding the public’s access to local government meetings.
Scope
Many of the sweeping changes authorized by SB 707 ... Continue Reading
tags:
Brown Act, Hybrid meetings, Public meetings,
by Derek P. Cole on April 10, 2020
posted in
Elections, Meetings,
Yesterday, Governor Newsom amended his previous executive order regarding deadlines under the California Voting Rights Act (“CVRA”). His new order clarifies that the suspension of CVRA deadlines applies to both of the “safe harbor” periods provided in Elections Code section 10010. It is clear now the suspension applies to the first, 45-day period local agencies have to consider adoption of a resolution expressing intention to convert to district elections, as well as the second, 90-day period for the public hearings to create districts.
... Continue Reading
tags:
At Large Elections, By District Elections, California Voting Rights Act, Executive Order,
by Derek P. Cole on March 22, 2020
posted in
Meetings,
On March 21, 2020, the Governor issued the latest of many executive orders concerning the COVID-19 public-health emergency. This most recent order addresses a number of subjects, including local agency meetings under the Brown Act. As to these meetings, the order suspends the Act’s prohibition against taking action on “off-agenda” business items under limited circumstances.
... Continue Reading
tags:
Brown Act, COVID-19, Executive Order, Off-Agenda Items,
by Steven G. Pacifico on March 18, 2020
posted in
Meetings,
On March 17, 2020, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order No. N-29-20 concerning COVID-19 (the “coronavirus”) that, among other things, supersedes the provisions of Executive Order No. N-25-20 related to partial suspensions of the Brown Act. This previous order and its effect on local agencies was covered in our previous blog post.
The new executive order suspends portions of the Brown Act to allow local government to implement recommended or imposed social distancing measures to prevent or slow the spread of the coronavirus.
... Continue Reading
tags:
Brown Act, COVID-19, Public meetings,
by Derek P. Cole on March 12, 2020
posted in
Meetings,
Today, Governor Newsom issued an executive order concerning COVID-19 (the “coronavirus”) that, among other things, suspended portions of the Brown Act to expand the authorizations of teleconferencing in local public meetings. The executive order also recommends local agencies implement measures to ensure “social distancing” in their public meetings and events. “Social distancing” is the practice of keeping appropriate distances (six feet is often recommended) between persons.
... Continue Reading
tags:
Brown Act, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Social Distancing, Teleconferencing,
