Modesto City adopts policies to implement Senate Bill 707, enabling remote public comment and bilingual agendas

The City of Modesto adopted two new public‑participation policies to implement Senate Bill 707, the weekly city recap announced. The measures direct the city to enable Zoom features that allow for remote public comment and to publish and promote city council meeting agendas in both English and Spanish on the city’s website and social media.

The presenter said the changes take effect starting July 1. The measures are framed as steps to increase access to council proceedings and to comply with SB 707. The recap did not specify vote tallies or further procedural details from the council meeting.

Supporters of SB 707 have said its intent is to broaden public access; the city’s action adds local implementation steps the presenter described as technological and outreach measures. No additional policy text or implementation schedule beyond the July 1 start date was provided in the recap.

“Starting July 1, the city will enable features on Zoom to allow for remote public comment,” the presenter said, and added that the city will “publish and promote city council meeting agendas in English and Spanish on the city's website and social media platforms.”

The city’s recap did not include the council’s vote count or a posting of the adopted policy language. The next procedural step—such as staff implementation guidance or a public notice with detailed instructions for using the Zoom comment features—was not specified in the segment.