Senate adopts standalone code of ethics with two committee-recommended changes

The Arkansas Senate adopted a standalone Senate Code of Ethics after the Senate Ethics Committee recommended two changes.

As chair of the Senate Ethics Committee, Senator Irvin told colleagues the committee approved the code with two modifications that are now before the full Senate. The committee’s changes include clarifying the attorney’s and staff’s roles in proceedings and inserting language required because the code has been decoupled from the Senate rules. “The change that is listed under senators Hammer and Tucker just clarifies the attorney's role, and our staff's role and, the proceedings of of any, type of a claimant or respondent,” the chair said. He added that because the code is no longer part of the Senate rules “we have to, include this language so that we are operating under the senate rules for any changes made to the the code of ethics.”

The ethics committee reported it will continue work next week on additional changes where it did not reach consensus. On the floor the motion to adopt the code as recommended by the committee was approved by voice vote.

Why it matters: The change makes the code a standalone policy rather than part of the Senate rules and clarifies procedural roles for staff and attorneys in ethics matters. The committee’s ongoing work indicates further refinements are expected.