Page 6 - 2026 Lozano Smith Brown Act Handbook

“Two-way telephonic service” means a telephone service that does not require internet access
and allows participants to dial a telephone number to listen and verbally participate. “Two-way
audiovisual platform” means an online platform that provides participants with the ability to
participate in a meeting via both an interactive video conference and a two-way telephonic
service.

If a two-way audiovisual platform is provided, the agency must publicly post and provide a call-
in option, and activate any automatic captioning function during the meeting if an automatic
captioning function is included with the two-way audiovisual platform.

Members of the public participating remotely must be provided with the same opportunity to
comment as a person attending the meeting in person.

The legislative body must also adopt a policy addressing how they will handle the disruption of
telephonic or internet service occurring during meetings, which must include a provision for
a minimum one-hour recess and good faith attempt to restore service if service is not restored
sooner.

Translation and Encouraging Public Participation

Part of the new requirements for eligible legislative bodies is a requirement to provide translation
and interpretation services at legislative body meetings and the translation of agendas, as well as
affirmative obligations to encourage public participation. Again, these requirements will not
apply to local educational agencies.

The following are the translation and interpretation requirements:

• Eligible legislative bodies must reasonably assist members of the public who wish to
translate a legislative body meeting into any language or wish to receive interpretation
provided by another member of the public, so long as the interpretation does not disrupt
the orderly conduct of the meeting. The legislative body is not required to provide
interpretation of any public meeting, but may elect to do so.

• Assistance may include any of the following: (i) arranging space for one or more
interpreters at the meeting location; (ii) allowing extra time during the meeting for
interpretation to occur; (iii) ensuring that participants may utilize their personal
equipment or reasonably access facilities for participants to access commercially
available interpretation services. The legislative body is not responsible for the content
or accuracy of any interpretation it facilitates and may not be sued over the content or
accuracy. The legislative body shall publicize instructions on how to request assistance.

• The agenda for each legislative body meeting must be translated into applicable
languages (a maximum of three), as defined, and posted in the same manner as the
English version. The agenda does not include the entire agenda packet. A translation
made using a digital translation service will satisfy these requirements. Members of the
public must also be allowed to post additional translations of the agenda at a physical

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