SB 470: Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act: teleconferencing.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law, the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, requires, with specified exceptions, that all meetings of a state body be open and public and all persons be permitted to attend any meeting of a state body. The act authorizes meetings through teleconference subject to specified requirements, including, among others, that the state body post agendas at all teleconference locations, that each teleconference location be identified in the notice and agenda of the meeting or proceeding, that each teleconference location be accessible to the public, that the agenda provide an opportunity for members of the public to address the state body directly at each teleconference location, and that at least one member of the state body be physically present at the location specified in the notice of the meeting.

The act authorizes an additional, alternative set of provisions under which a state body may hold a meeting by teleconference subject to specified requirements, including, among others, that at least one member of the state body is physically present at each teleconference location, as defined, that a majority of the members of the state body are physically present at the same teleconference location, except as specified, and that members of the state body visibly appear on camera during the open portion of a meeting that is publicly accessible via the internet or other online platform, except as specified. The act authorizes, under specified circumstances, a member of the state body to participate pursuant to these provisions from a remote location, which would not be required to be accessible to the public and which the act prohibits the notice and agenda from disclosing. The act repeals these provisions on January 1, 2026.

This bill would instead repeal these provisions on January 1, 2030.

The act authorizes a multimember state advisory body to hold an open meeting by teleconference pursuant to an alternative set of provisions that are in addition to the above-described provisions generally applicable to state bodies. These alternative provisions specify requirements, including, among others, that the multimember state advisory body designates the primary physical meeting location in the notice of the meeting where members of the public may physically attend the meeting and participate.

Until January 1, 2026, the act requires that at least one staff member of the state body is present at the primary physical meeting location during the meeting, and that the members of the state body visibly appear on camera during the open portion of a meeting that is publicly accessible via the internet or other online platform, except as specified.

The act, beginning January 1, 2026, instead requires that a quorum of the members of the state body be in attendance at the primary physical meeting location, as described above, and that all decisions taken during the teleconference be by rollcall, and modifies certain of the above requirements related to the primary physical meeting location.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. October 1, 2025Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 222, Statutes of 2025.
2. October 1, 2025Approved by the Governor.
3. September 16, 2025Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
4. September 8, 2025In Senate. Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
5. September 8, 2025Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 57. Noes 13. Page 2985.) Ordered to the Senate.
6. August 21, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
7. August 20, 2025From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 12. Noes 2.) (August 20).
8. July 10, 2025From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 17. Noes 5.) (July 9). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
9. June 9, 2025Referred to Com. on G.O.
10. June 3, 2025In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
11. June 2, 2025Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 28. Noes 5. Page 1386.) Ordered to the Assembly.
12. April 29, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.