Open meetings: meeting and teleconference requirements.

Senator Durazo's comprehensive update to California's open meetings law mandates expanded public access through remote participation options and enhanced language accessibility requirements for local government bodies. The legislation requires cities, counties and special districts serving populations over 30,000 to provide two-way audiovisual or telephonic access for all public meetings, along with translation of agendas into languages spoken by 20% or more of the local population.

The bill establishes detailed protocols for remote meeting participation, requiring legislative bodies to provide real-time public comment opportunities and maintain accessible web pages with meeting information. Members participating remotely must disclose their location and any others present, while legislative bodies must identify physical meeting locations for public attendance. Special provisions allow continued remote participation during emergencies or when members face specific circumstances like medical needs or caregiving responsibilities.

For neighborhood councils, student organizations, and multi-jurisdictional bodies, the legislation creates tailored remote meeting requirements through 2030, provided they maintain minimum standards for public access and participation. The bill also expands the definition of legislative bodies subject to open meeting requirements to include advisory committees with ongoing jurisdiction or fixed meeting schedules.

To promote broader community engagement, affected agencies must establish systems for electronic agenda access, maintain dedicated public meeting web pages, and conduct outreach to media outlets and community organizations serving non-English speaking populations. The legislation preserves core transparency requirements while adapting them for contemporary governance needs and technological capabilities.