Local agencies: nondisclosure agreements.

Existing law, the legislative code of ethics, prohibits Members of the Legislature from entering into, or requesting that another party enter into, a nondisclosure agreement relating to the drafting, negotiation, or discussion of proposed legislation. Existing law also makes any nondisclosure agreement relating to the drafting, negotiation, or discussion of proposed legislation entered into after January 1, 2026, void and unenforceable. Existing law provides an exception for nondisclosure agreements, or portions thereof, that prevent only the disclosure of trade secrets, financial information, or proprietary information, as specified. This bill would prohibit a local agency official, as defined, acting in their official capacity from entering into, or requesting that another individual enter into, a nondisclosure agreement relating to public business that precludes their ability to share information with fellow local agency officials serving on the same council, board, commission, district, or agency. The bill would require a local agency official in violation of that provision to, among other things, disclose the existence of the nondisclosure agreement, as specified, and would provide that these requirements imposed on a local agency official also apply to a local agency official acting in their official capacity who entered into, or requested that another individual enter into, a nondisclosure agreement described above before January 1, 2027. By imposing additional duties on local agency officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would also make any nondisclosure agreement relating to public business that precludes the ability of a local agency official to share information with fellow local agency officials serving on the same council, board, commission, district, or agency and that is entered into after January 1, 2027, void and unenforceable. The bill would prohibit an employee of a local agency or a local agency official acti