Escondido adopts SB 707 technology‑disruption policy requiring remote access options by July 2026
February 20, 2026 | Escondido, San Diego County, California
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The Escondido City Council adopted a resolution on Feb. 23 to implement SB 707 changes to the Brown Act and approve a technology‑disruption policy that sets procedures for remote participation and for recessing or ending meetings in the event of technology disruptions.
The City Clerk summarized the two‑phase law: phase 1 updates are complete, and phase 2—effective July 1, 2026—requires mandatory two‑way telephonic or audiovisual access with equal treatment of in‑person and remote public comment. The clerk recommended a cloud‑based platform tailored for SB 707 compliance and said the County of San Diego uses the same vendor.
On cost, the clerk said, “The contract with PublicInput is approximately $21,000 annually,” and described platform features including hybrid meeting access, speaker‑queue management, live captioning and automated records. Councilmembers asked about security and potential staffing needs; the clerk said she intends to train to operate the system without hiring additional staff immediately and will report back to council if staffing changes are required.
The council voted 5–0 to adopt the resolution and receive the report.
What happens next: Staff will publish the adopted policy, integrate procedures into council rules and train personnel ahead of the July 1, 2026 phase‑2 implementation deadline.
The City Clerk summarized the two‑phase law: phase 1 updates are complete, and phase 2—effective July 1, 2026—requires mandatory two‑way telephonic or audiovisual access with equal treatment of in‑person and remote public comment. The clerk recommended a cloud‑based platform tailored for SB 707 compliance and said the County of San Diego uses the same vendor.
On cost, the clerk said, “The contract with PublicInput is approximately $21,000 annually,” and described platform features including hybrid meeting access, speaker‑queue management, live captioning and automated records. Councilmembers asked about security and potential staffing needs; the clerk said she intends to train to operate the system without hiring additional staff immediately and will report back to council if staffing changes are required.
The council voted 5–0 to adopt the resolution and receive the report.
What happens next: Staff will publish the adopted policy, integrate procedures into council rules and train personnel ahead of the July 1, 2026 phase‑2 implementation deadline.
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