On October 5, 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law AB 663, which provides corporations with greater flexibility to hold virtual-only shareholder meetings during emergencies, and also expands corporations’ ability to permit remote participation at physical meetings, even absent an emergency. AB 663 also expands the definition of an “emergency” to include pandemics, and provides boards of directors with greater powers to act during emergencies, although they may not take any action that requires the vote of shareholders. AB 663 seeks in part to eliminate difficulties imposed by COVID-19 travel and gathering restrictions, which created problems for corporations trying to adhere to in-person meeting requirements under the corporate laws of many states, including California. AB 663 takes effect on January 1, 2022.