The General Assembly Raised Bill No. 6848 mandates that by October 1, 2026, all municipalities in the state must adopt a conflict of interest provision for their elected and appointed officials, officers, and employees. This provision must include a definition of "conflict of interest," which municipalities can either create themselves or adopt a model definition provided in the bill. The model definition specifies that a conflict of interest arises when an official or employee, or their immediate family or business associates, stands to gain or lose financially due to their official activities, with exceptions for actions benefiting a substantial segment of the municipality's population. Municipalities that already have a conflict of interest policy in place before January 1, 2026, are exempt from this requirement.

Additionally, municipalities are required to notify the Office of State Ethics by January 15, 2027, certifying their compliance with the new provisions or their exemption status. They must also publish their conflict of interest provisions on their websites or, if they lack a website, make them available at the town or city clerk's office. The bill emphasizes transparency and accountability in local governance by ensuring that conflict of interest policies are accessible to the public. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.