House Bill No. 6931 seeks to amend the State Code of Ethics to address conflicts of interest for public officials and state employees, particularly concerning their nonstate employers. The bill introduces new definitions that clarify what constitutes a "business with which the public official or state employee is associated," and it establishes that a substantial conflict arises when there is a reasonable belief that a nonstate employer or the employer of a spouse may experience financial gain or loss due to the official's actions. For elected officials, a substantial conflict is recognized only if they possess actual knowledge of the potential financial impact. The bill also modifies existing language to replace gender-specific terms with neutral language and expands the definition of potential conflicts to include financial interests related to nonstate employers and their spouses.

Additionally, the bill outlines the procedures for addressing identified conflicts of interest. Elected officials facing a substantial conflict must either recuse themselves from the matter or submit a written statement to the Office of State Ethics, detailing the conflict and justifying their participation. This statement must be recorded in the agency's journal or minutes. The bill aims to enhance transparency and accountability among public officials and may generate minimal revenue from fines for false statements, as it broadens the criteria for what constitutes a false statement. The changes are set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 1-85, 1-86
GOS Joint Favorable: 1-85, 1-86
File No. 85: 1-85, 1-86