The Nevada Commission on Ethics on Oct. 16 approved its fiscal year 2024 annual report and discussed several operational and regulatory changes aimed at improving advisory opinions, complaint handling and outreach.

Executive Director Ross Armstrong presented the final draft, noting the data in the charts had been verified and that most changes were typographical. He described substantive regulatory changes that attained final approval after a second hearing, including allowing newly certified elected officials to request advisory opinions before they formally begin their duties so they can "start off on day one on the right ethical foot," he said.

The commission also adopted an internal policy and regulatory language to allow staff to reject complaints that are anonymous or fail to meet filing requirements, with the executive director empowered to notify filers and to give the chair and vice chair notice of rejected complaints so the commission can maintain transparency about rejections.

Armstrong reported a recent surge in complaints in August and September that staff have been processing and noted recruitment for an associate counsel position remains unsuccessful; the agency has advertised in statewide bar channels and continues to operate without that hire. Budget updates included an extension on federal grant funding for the Nevada Ethics Online project, which delays the shift of some expenses to state general funds, and an item in the governor’s finance submission for a case management system, outreach funding and a potential office relocation to Reno to aid recruitment.

The commission voted unanimously to approve the annual report as amended and directed the executive director to publish it after final formatting and data review. Commissioners praised the report’s format and the staff’s outreach work, including trainings, tabling at conferences and a first newsletter distribution.