Brown Act refresher focuses on 2026 rules for virtual participation and digital conduct

Deborah Cook led a Brown Act refresher highlighting changes to open-meeting rules that took effect in 2026, including requirements for written policies addressing virtual-disruption contingencies and guidance to make remote participation more accessible. Cook said the City adopted a written backup policy June 23 and noted the law requires agencies to make virtual participation easier for the public.

Cook reviewed new remote-participation categories and a potentially confusing quorum implication: remote appearances for disability accommodation count toward a quorum, while some "just cause" remote appearances do not. She also explained the recently codified concept of "digital misconduct," noting it requires a narrow set of conditions to be actionable and that most commission members are unlikely to trigger the enforcement standard. "The Brown Act purpose hasn't changed," she said, and the training emphasized transparency, accessibility and caution around serial social-media interactions (reply-all risks). Commissioners asked about AI and use of city-issued hardware; Cook said equipment-use or AI policies may impose additional limits beyond the ethics code.