Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5143, which revises aspects of public service and legislative ethics law, was reported out of the State Government & Tribal Relations committee with a due-pass recommendation following staff briefing and discussion.

The bill, summarized by Desiree of the Office of Program Research staff, modifies activities considered to have a legislative nexus, permits posting of generally recognized days or months of note, allows legislators and staff to post constituent achievements with permission, and adds definitions for “emergency” and “extraordinary award.” It raises the acceptable monetary threshold for gifts from $50 to $100 and specifies that gift cards received by legislative employees are not considered gifts if they do not exceed $25. The bill also allows legislative employees to accept unsolicited gifts from a legislator without violating ethics laws, modifies restrictions on using state facilities to assist campaigns, permits limited website changes during election freeze periods (office contact information only), and removes “costs” from the combined $5,000 cap so that penalties alone can be imposed up to $5,000.

Nut graf: Sponsors and staff described SB 5143 as largely clarifying and negotiated with the Legislative Ethics Board; members said the bill modernizes language and resolves long-standing ambiguities about permissible communications and penalties under ethics rules.

Representative Walsh said the bill “clears things up” and noted one area for possible further review: removal of costs from the statutory cap could increase recoverable administrative or legal costs in enforcement actions. Vice Chair Stearns moved the motion to report the bill out with a due-pass recommendation and asked for a yes vote. No amendments were offered during the committee session.

A voice vote and staff check produced a final announcement of 6 ayes, 0 nays, and 1 excused; staff recorded the committee’s action as reporting the engrossed substitute Senate Bill 5143 out of committee with a due-pass recommendation.

Ending: The committee approved the bill to move forward; members noted the bill’s negotiated status with the ethics board and a possible future interest in further reviewing the provisions concerning costs and penalties.