The Joint Committee on Ways and Means recommended passage Thursday of Senate Bill 55 22, the budget for the Oregon Government Ethics Commission, which includes funding for a case management system and an electronic filing upgrade and an increase in legal fees paid to the Department of Justice.

The general government subcommittee recommended a total budget of $7,093,909 in other funds and 15 FTE, a 21.9% increase above the current service level. The recommendation includes about $1,300,000 for case management and electronic filing system upgrades and funds to cover Department of Justice legal fees, training upgrades and some reclassification of staff positions.

Emily Coates of the Legislative Fiscal Office told members that roughly $570,000 of the upgrade costs are one‑time expenses; ongoing licensing or filing fees tied to the system changes were described as anticipated and expected to be phased in in the 2027–29 biennium. Committee members questioned whether higher ongoing Department of Justice legal fees — noted in the package as an increase of about $600,000 — would continue and whether the commission is responsive to small local government bodies that must file civil‑service statements.

One committee member disclosed a potential personal conflict because of an outstanding inquiry with the ethics commission and said the disclosure was being made to avoid the appearance of impropriety. Another member said that recent increases in inquiries and statements of economic interest filings had contributed to the higher legal and systems costs and said they would vote no on the budget for that reason.

Action: The subcommittee recommended SB 55 22 be amended by the dash‑1 amendment and reported out do pass as amended. The transcript records the motion as passing; no roll call or tally was provided.

Why it matters: The commission handles ethics advice, complaints and filings for public officials and lobbyists; higher case volume and more complex filings are driving operational and legal costs, according to fiscal staff.