Senate hearing: Ethics Commission seeks additional staff, case‑management system and funds for rule implementation

Bismarck — The North Dakota Ethics Commission told the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday that the agency has expanded education and enforcement activity since 2019 and is asking the legislature to approve additional staff and funding for the 2025–27 biennium.

Rebecca Binstock, executive director of the North Dakota Ethics Commission, said the commission has shifted from a near‑entirely volunteer operation to a small professional staff and has seen a rise in filings and enforcement work. "The Ethics Commission was established as an independent constitutional entity in 2018," Binstock said, and the panel has adopted a strategic plan focused on education, relationships and communications, rules review, a positive work culture and "meaningful enforcement."

Binstock told the committee staff conducted 28 educational and training sessions during 2024 that reached an estimated 1,000 residents and offered a webinar series called "Dakota Dilemmas." She said the commission moved many disclosure and meeting‑notice forms online through work with the state information technology office (NDIT) and has launched a Prairie Principles newsletter, a Facebook page and a YouTube channel to improve outreach.

Why it matters: Committee members and commission staff framed the request as part of the agency's work to increase transparency and to process a growing volume of complaints and disclosures. The commission presented statistics showing a rise in advisory opinions, meeting notices…