California Local Agency Ethics AB 1234
New Mandatory Trainings for Local Government Board Members and Staff (SB 827): Two-hour Training Course
Current law requires certain elected and appointed local public officials to receive training on ethics principles and laws relevant to the official’s public service for a minimum of two hours every two years. Starting in 2026, an additional two-hour fiscal and financial training will be required, and certain local government staff will be required to take the respective training.
In October of 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law SB 827, a bill authored by State Senate Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez. The new law builds upon current ethics training requirements, commonly known as “AB 1234 training”, by adding a new “fiscal and financial training” requirement aimed at providing local officials with the tools and knowledge necessary to practice good governance and effective stewardship of public funds. While the requirements of SB 827 are largely similar to the ethics training requirements of AB 1234, there are a few notable differences that local agencies will need to become familiar with before impending deadlines.
California Local Agency Ethics AB 1234 Training: Two-hour Training Course
The Ethics AB 1234 course is available through Vector Solutions and is two hours long. The California State Legislature recently passed AB 1234, mandating ethics training every two years for local government officials. This course provides a brief overview of the topics that must be covered under the law, including the laws relating to personal financial gain by public servants, claiming perquisites of office, government transparency, and fair government processes. Specifically covered are the Political Reform Act, the Brown Act, and the Public Records Act, and several other laws that govern the behaviors and practices of public servants. The primary goal of this course is to expose you to California ethics laws and allow you to identify potential conflict-of-interest situations.
You will receive a certificate of completion once you have successfully completed the course. Please keep a copy for your records.
To access the Vector Solutions training portal, please visit the link below.