Transcript Highlights:

• The Judicial Standards Commission is the sole judicial ethics commission.
• and an oversight agency of protecting the public from the improper conduct of New Mexico judges.
• This is ethical misconduct.
• So we'll begin first by just quickly explaining what the Ethics Commission does.
• Also, like the Judicial Standards, the Ethics Commission is a constitutional agency.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• conduct, not to force participation in the funding of private organizations.
• But regardless, conduct, not to force participation in conduct, not to force participation in the<00:
• </c> adopting rules for conduct and activity. adopting rules for conduct and activity.
• So, in ethical and responsible manner.
• The speaker said the ethics hotline is included as well.

Committee: House Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• That's right, they want to jettison ethics for quote conduct.
• That's right, they want to jettison ethics for quote conduct.
• That's right, they want to jettison ethics for quote conduct.
• That's right, they want to jettison ethics for quote conduct.
• That's right, they want to jettison ethics for quote conduct.

Bills: SCR3 , SCR2 , SCR1 , HCR1 , HR6 , HR5 , HR4 , HR3 , HR2 , HR1

Keywords: SCR3, resolution, state law, legislative approval, concurrent resolution, honoring, lying in state, Capitol, James Earl Carter, United States President, electoral votes, 2025 election, presidential election, Congress, inauguration, committee, ceremonies, joint committee, ceremony, authorization

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:27:03.520><c> administrative</c> 411 relating to ethics administrative 411 relating to ethics
• </c> measure we have the Hawaii state ethics measure we have the Hawaii state ethics Commission<00:27
• </c> um there is a provision in the ethics um there is a provision in the ethics code<00:31:38.480><c
• </c> comments to this bill and as the ethics comments to this bill and as the ethics commission<00:34
• </c><00:34:30.919><c> which</c> chapter 84 standards of conduct which chapter 84 standards of conduct

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs held its first hearing of the 33rd Legislature and heard several measures, beginning with HB 131, which would allow agencies to disclose government records to researchers for certain purposes and direct the Office of Information Practices to adopt uniform rules. OIP supported the bill, saying it would help researchers access government records, while DLNR questioned whether the bill was necessary, raised concerns about costs and exemptions, and suggested a definition change regarding media. The Public First Law Center and other supporters said the bill would not remove existing exemptions or create new disclosure requirements, but would simply authorize rulemaking to create a clearer process for research access. Common Cause Hawaiʻi raised concern about including news media in the measure. The chair emphasized that the rulemaking process would allow agencies and the public to work through details, and the committee moved on without a recorded vote in the transcript. The committee then heard HB 411, which would create uniform administrative penalty procedures under the state ethics code and lobbyist law, and HB 412, which would expand lobbying definitions to cover certain communications with high-level executive officials about procurement and make some contracts voidable if awarded through unethical lobbying. The Ethics Commission supported HB 411 as an efficiency measure that would streamline the charge process without changing substantive rights, while HB 412 was described as a narrow transparency measure modeled on other states. The State Procurement Office warned that voiding contracts could cause delays, warranty issues, third-party complications, and higher reprocurement costs. The Ethics Commission responded that any contract revocation would be at the Attorney General’s discretion and likely reserved for egregious cases, and that the threat of voiding a contract would help deter noncompliance. The committee also heard HB 413, which clarifies that lobbyist campaign contribution prohibitions apply during periods when both houses of the Legislature are in session; the Ethics Commission and Campaign Spending Commission both supported the bill and the Ethics Commission requested amendments to clarify jurisdiction between state and county lobbyist enforcement. Finally, the committee took up HB 149, which would require domestic and foreign corporations to report independent expenditures and political contributions to shareholders. The only testimony noted in the transcript was written comments from Matson, which said the requirement would be expensive and cumbersome and that the information is already publicly available through existing campaign finance reporting websites. No votes or final committee actions on the bills were recorded in the provided transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• The lottery conducted one public hearing on March 27, 2026, in Bismarck.
• those. and how they conduct those.
• On this Ethics Committee, have we already proved what they're doing?
• And also, next week, the Ethics Commission is having some education on the issue.
• And then the organizations with this nonprofit are like, would you have an ethics commission?

Committee: Joint Administrative Rules Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• , so this is the ethical part.
• So that's one piece of ethics.
• , so this is the ethical part.
• So that's one piece of ethics.
• , so this is the ethical part.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• That I haven't found in other states, frankly, Madam Chair, called cumulative conduct.
• They're not related to malicious conduct or private equity.
• Additionally, there's the State Ethics Commission, and the Ethics Commission receives complaints.
• And the Ethics Commission has power to enforce the Lobbyist Reporting Act, including this.
• Madam Chair, Representative Hall, I know we have the Deputy Director of the Ethics Commission.

Bills: HB99 , HB49 , HB164 , SB30 , SB43 , SB50 , SB136

Committee: House House Judiciary

Keywords: medical malpractice, malpractice reform, patient's compensation fund, PCF, health care liability, tort reform, damage caps, punitive damages, hospital liability, physician liability, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, outpatient facility, ambulatory surgical center, urgent care, free-standing emergency room, insurance surcharge, superintendent of insurance, New Mexico hospitals, medical review process

Transcript Highlights:

• The lottery conducted one public hearing on March 27, 2026, in Bismarck.
• those. and how they conduct those.
• On this Ethics Committee, have we already approved what they're doing?
• A question for the Ethics Commission.
• And also, next week, the Ethics Commission is having some education on the issue.

Committee: Joint Administrative Rules Committee

Summary: The committee approved the March 12, 2026 minutes and granted the Board of Medicine an extension of time to implement rule changes tied to House Bill 1620/1622, which concern North Dakota’s entry into the physician assistant licensure compact. The Board said it is waiting on compact rules, especially fee structures, before finalizing its own rules. The committee then took up extensive Office of Management and Budget personnel rule revisions, covering salary administration, recruitment, leave policies, funeral leave, service awards, appeals, and shared leave. OMB said the changes modernize HR practices and implement recent legislation, including new hire leave and enhanced annual leave for hard-to-fill positions; the committee raised concerns about the subjectivity and fairness of the hard-to-fill leave provisions, but no action was taken against the rules. The North Dakota Lottery presented emergency and regular rule changes, including updates tied to the Millionaire for Life game and miscellaneous clarifications. The Board of Examiners for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology described rule updates that add speech-language pathology assistants to the rules, ease continuing education requirements for out-of-state applicants, expand temporary licensure, and clarify supervision standards. The State Electrical Board reviewed numerous code updates, including changes to electrical and fire alarm standards, receptacle labeling, countertop receptacles, and a major new conveyance/elevator inspection program added by the Legislature; the board said it is preparing to begin inspections by August 1. The Industrial Commission’s Geological Survey Division presented new rules implementing House Bill 1459 on critical minerals in coal-bearing formations, including permit, reporting, confidentiality, and royalty-related provisions. The committee asked about confidentiality of exploration data and drilling depth. The Public Employees Retirement System outlined rule changes implementing several bills affecting defined benefit, public safety, defined contribution, insurance, deferred compensation, and retiree health credit programs, and noted possible future proposals to add state EMS or create a LOSAP-style plan. The Department of Health and Human Services presented substance use disorder voucher rules implementing House Bill 1012, including allowing individuals to apply directly and setting reimbursement procedures; the rules were expected to have a $250,000 general fund impact already included in the budget. The longest discussion involved the Gaming Commission rules. Members questioned whether the commission had authority to raise poker tournament buy-ins from $300 to $1,500, viewing it as an expansion of gaming rather than a mere clarification. After debate, the committee voted to void that specific rule section for lack of statutory authority. The rest of the gaming rules covered higher raffle limits from House Bill 1192, the change from “bar” to “alcoholic beverage establishment,” veterans’ organization proceeds, credit ticket voucher kiosks, online raffles, and advertising restrictions; the presenter said several public comments led to revisions or withdrawals of proposed language. The meeting ended with discussion of upcoming Ethics Commission travel-reporting rules and scheduling the next committee meeting in September.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the code of ethics and code of conduct for those that are licensed and certified.
• </c><02:10:00.079><c> neck</c><02:10:00.400><c> ethics</c><02:10:01.040><c> for</c> code of conduct neck
• ethics for code of conduct neck ethics for educational<02:10:02.000><c> professionals.
• </c><02:10:51.920><c> We</c><02:10:52.159><c> are</c> these code of conduct and ethics.
• We are these code of conduct and ethics.

Summary: The conference committee first met on HB 1260, a bill requested by municipal clerks to allow certain divorce-related records to be kept confidential. House members argued the Senate amendment would reverse the presumption of openness established in the Keene Sentinel case and raise constitutional issues under the state constitution’s privacy and open-government provisions. Senate members responded that the 2018 privacy amendment, the limited scope of the proposal, and modern internet risks justified the change, but the House maintained the issue needed a full hearing in a separate bill. The committee ultimately voted unanimously for the Senate to recede and adopt the House version, preserving the underlying bill without the Senate amendment, and both sides said they would revisit the topic in a future session. The committee then took up HB 1574, which extends free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch programs and provides funding for SNAP administrative costs. The main dispute was the Senate’s addition of $4.4 million for SNAP administration, which DHHS said was needed because federal law would shift more administrative costs to the state and could increase the state’s SNAP error rate, potentially triggering much larger future penalties. DHHS officials reported the current error rate was 7.57% for federal fiscal year 2024, below the national average, and estimated that if the rate rose above 8%, the state could owe about 10% of SNAP benefits, or roughly $12 million for a partial year and nearly $16 million for a full year. Some House members supported the added funding as a preventive measure, while others objected that the underlying bill was modest and the amendment resembled a previously rejected proposal. The discussion ended with the committee moving toward the House position and the bill’s future depending on the chamber’s vote on the Senate amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, Co-chairman Cook will be conducting the rules portion of our meeting with this.
• Chairman Cook will be conducting the rules portion of our meeting, so at this time I'll turn the meeting
• so what I'm going to be doing is covering the rest of the dockets, which cover the Idaho Code of Ethics
• so what I'm going to be doing is covering the rest of the dockets, which cover the Idaho Code of Ethics
• Beginning on page 475, you have the Code of Ethics for Idaho Professional Educators.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Ethics or a code of conduct.
• four levels or so within the code of ethics conduct that you can, you know, we use reprimand, uh, suspend
• four levels or so within the code of ethics conduct that you can, you know, we use reprimand, uh, suspend
• New Hampshire educators' code of conduct and code of ethics training, and Title IX investigation training
• New Hampshire educators' code of conduct and code of ethics training, and Title IX investigation training

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• as to a recommendation of an ethics violation, basically.
• So it's an internal matter within the Ethics Committee, and that's why we elect the ethics members because
• Within the ethics hearing, there'd be no reason for anyone to have an attorney.
• Within the ethics hearing, there'd be no reason for anyone to have an attorney.
• So it adds some prohibited conduct. It also does not apply in several cases.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• They've consulted ethics folks, and they've also consulted LSS is nervous.
• So the ethics bill, just for everybody's information, did pass.
• So the ethics bill, just for everybody's information, did pass.
• I agree wholeheartedly with the idea of the ethics alert.
• Ask one more thing on this ethics alert.

Summary: The committee approved the minutes as corrected and noted there were no employment disclosure forms. It then discussed a draft advisory opinion on legislative stickers, pens, business cards, and similar items. Members agreed the opinion should identify historically provided items as presumptively within normal legislative conduct, but add clearer language that such items still cannot be used in a campaign-related way or otherwise conflict with ethics rules on use of public resources. Staff said Legislative Support Services and administration would be the main points of review for questionable requests, and the draft would be revised for board review. The committee also reviewed a second advisory opinion request about legislative and caucus staff interacting with caucus social media posts. The discussion focused on whether staff may like or engage with posts about legislation or policy positions. Members generally agreed that liking or otherwise engaging with caucus posts could be viewed as support and could create ethics problems, especially because social media content remains online and could later be tied to legislation. The draft was to be revised to draw clearer lines for compliance. Members then discussed a long-running project to review and either retain or retire older advisory opinions, and agreed to continue and complete that review process. They also discussed the recently passed ethics bill and supported issuing an ethics alert summarizing major changes, including concerns about a House amendment affecting social media and website references during the election year activity period. Finally, the committee approved spending about $19,171 to digitize archived case files into searchable format, with members expressing support for moving away from paper records. After public business ended, the committee adjourned the public session and planned to reconvene in executive session.

Transcript Highlights:

• The ethical violations occurred.
• “During the time that's relevant to these ethical violations or these allegations of ethical violations
• ethical alarm bells?
• was ethical or unethical.
• Any questions by the Legislative Ethics Board members?

Summary: The hearing opened in a Washington State Office of Administrative Hearings matter involving Legislative Ethics Board complaint 2025-5 against Representative Tara Simmons. The ALJ outlined the process, the issues on appeal, and the burden of proof, which centered on whether Simmons violated the Ethics Act by using her legislative position for others’ benefit and by holding outside employment that conflicted with her duties, and what sanction would be appropriate. Several exhibits were admitted by stipulation or without objection, while Exhibit 2 was initially held for later ruling but was ultimately admitted after testimony from the witness who prepared it. The board also granted a motion to sequester witnesses and took under advisement a motion to exclude three defense witnesses until after the staff case-in-chief. In opening statements, board staff alleged Simmons violated RCW 42.52.020 and RCW 42.52.070 by sponsoring a proviso that benefited her outside employer, Equity and Education Coalition (EEC), by using campaign surplus funds to help hire a friend, by intervening in a dispute over the proviso-funded work, and by sending text messages to influence others. Staff said it would seek penalties of up to $5,000 per violation plus costs. Defense counsel argued the allegations were technical ethics issues, denied Simmons profited personally, and contended the proviso funding her employer was permitted under prior board guidance; counsel also argued the campaign donation and later contract dispute were lawful and context-dependent. The first witness, Kimberly Gordon of American Equity and Justice Group (AEJG), testified that AEJG received state proviso funding and donations from Simmons, including $10,000 and later $40,000, which Gordon said were intended to fund the hiring of Antoine Coleman, Simmons’s romantic partner. Gordon said AEJG returned the donations and terminated Coleman after learning of the relationship and potential conflict of interest. She also testified about a later 2024 proviso involving EEC, a subcontract between AEJG and EEC, and a dispute over EEC’s performance under that subcontract. Gordon said AEJG raised concerns with the Administrative Office of the Courts, met with contract manager Chris Stanley, and ultimately rewrote the subcontract after Stanley, allegedly after speaking with Simmons, directed them to do so. The hearing then recessed for lunch, and cross-examination of Gordon was set to continue afterward.

Transcript Highlights:

• But there is an ethics that we need to be looking at.
• It's very loose ethics, as you had asked about, the ethics around it.
• That team conducts an independent review called the A-RIF.
• There are also already ethics codes that exist.
• And I think that's what ethical surrogacy really looks like.

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• They've consulted ethics folks, and they've also consulted. LSS is nervous.
• Do we talk about the ethics bill? We can. It wasn't on your agenda. Yeah.
• So the ethics bill, just for everybody's information, did pass.
• I agree wholeheartedly with the idea of the ethics alert.
• Ask one more thing on this ethics alert.

Summary: The committee approved the minutes as corrected and noted there were no employment disclosure forms. It then took up an advisory opinion on whether public resources may be used for items such as stickers, pens, and other printed materials. Members agreed the opinion should identify historically provided items as presumptively within the normal and regular conduct of legislative business, but they emphasized that even listed items cannot be used in a campaign-related way. Staff said they would redraft the opinion to reflect that caveat and route it back for board review. The committee also discussed a second advisory opinion request about whether legislative and caucus staff may interact with caucus social media posts by liking or sharing them. The draft conclusion was that staff should not like or engage with posts tied to legislation or policy positions, because such activity could amount to lobbying or create an ethics issue if the content later becomes legislation and remains online. Members asked for clearer language tying the analysis to legislative posts and the caucus context, and the draft will be revised and returned. Members then reviewed the status of a broader project to reexamine older advisory opinions and agreed to continue the review process so the remaining opinions can be retained, modified, or retired. They also discussed the recently passed ethics bill and supported issuing an ethics alert summarizing its major changes, including a House amendment related to election-year social media/web content. Finally, the board approved spending about $19,171 to digitize archived case files in searchable form, with members also supporting digitizing future files going forward. The public session was then adjourned and the board prepared to reconvene in executive session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Carrie Stillman, the executive director of the Commission on Ethics and Elections.
• Actually, the Commission on Ethics. Madam Director, you're Madam Director, you're recognized.
• This is a recommendation of the Florida Commission on Ethics this year.
• In 2024, the legislature changed the law governing ethics complaints. Mr.
• I am here before you on behalf of the Florida Commission on Ethics.

Bills: S0564 , S0572 , S0414 , S0620 , S0500 , S0092

Committee: Senate Ethics and Elections

Keywords: student volunteers, polling locations, election administration, community service, Florida statutes, ethics, public officers, employment of relatives, transparency, government accountability, campaign finance, child care, elections, fund usage, political candidates, candidate qualifying, federal office, election integrity, regulatory compliance, political candidacy

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair calls this meeting with the Texas Ethics Commission at 9:10 a.m. with the executive director, please
• Um, we want to recognize the contributions of three former chairs of the Texas Ethics Commission.
• He chaired the Business and Commerce Committee, State Affairs, and the Select Committee on Ethics.
• , the best ethics bill in the history of the Texas legislature.
• Texas Ethics Commission at 12:05 p.m. Will the executive director please call the roll.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:23:50.000><c> Our</c><01:23:50.239><c> ethics</c> our ethics committee.
• Our ethics our ethics committee.
• For me to review all of the conduct reviews and all of the ethics complaints is a heavy lift without
• For me to review all of the conduct reviews and all of the ethics complaints is a heavy lift without
• and all of the the conduct reviews and all of the ethics<01:43:10.639><c> complaints</c><01:43:11.600

Bills: HF3776 , HF3557 , HF3585

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: screen time, preschool, kindergarten, early childhood education, digital media, tablets, smartphones, educational technology, EdTech, classroom devices, publicly funded preschool, school policy, child development, special education, IEP, 504 plan, IFSP, Minnesota education law, climate literacy, education

Bills: HB4248 , HB4429 , HB2588 , HB3472 , HB4317 , HB3462 , HB2035 , HB3501 , HB3127 , HB3143 , HB3144 , HB3260 , HB4321 , HB3011 , HB3522 , HB3530 , HB3940 , HB3078 , HB3043 , HB3005 , HB3007 , HB3403 , HB1907 , HB3175 , HB3986 , HB3466 , HB3411 , HB4246 , SJR49 , HB3281 , HB4319 , HJR1086 , HJR1024 , HJR1087

Keywords: HB4248, hemp beverage, hemp drinks, THC beverage, cannabis beverage, intoxicating hemp, age restriction, under 21, minor possession, youth access, public health and safety, Title 63, Oklahoma Statutes, retail sales, alcohol-style regulation, controlled substances, beverage regulation, proxy advisory services, shareholder rights, financial transparency