The proposed bill, Substitute House Bill No. 7185, mandates the Office of State Ethics to conduct a comprehensive study of the existing laws within the State Codes of Ethics that govern public officials and lobbyists. The objective of this study is to assess whether any amendments are necessary to enhance government oversight of these officials and lobbyists. The executive director of the Office of State Ethics is required to submit a report detailing the findings and any legislative recommendations to the relevant joint standing committee of the General Assembly by February 1, 2026.

This bill introduces new legal language, specifically stating that the study will be conducted "from passage" and establishes it as a "New section." There are no deletions from current law noted in the text. The fiscal impact of the bill is assessed to be negligible, as the Office of State Ethics possesses the necessary resources to carry out the study without incurring additional costs.