Catherine, the Ethics Commission director, told the Appropriations Committee the commission will seek salary realignment across staff, a larger contract for its hearing officer and funding for an online statements-of-economic-interest database.

"We're asking for $25,000 to pay the ITS for an online database for statements of economic interest," Catherine said, adding the office cannot currently enforce filings because no comprehensive list exists of who must file. Catherine said the commission enforces the Open Meetings Act and the Public Records Act and has seen an increase in both caseload and complexity.

The commission also requested modest facilities and operational amounts after moving offices. Catherine said the agency moved into the Paul B. Johnson Jr. Building (an IHL-managed facility) and that the agency does not pay rent but was charged utility fees. She cited a contractor quote of about $12,000 to repair badly worn carpet in the new suite, and additional small increases tied to health-insurance premium changes and utility billing. Catherine said the health-insurance increase for FY2026 would be roughly $1,656 and that utilities required an additional $563 in contractual services.

Ben Stone, chairman of the Ethics Commission, urged the committee to consider the salary request, noting long institutional service among staff and a 2019 personnel-board study that the commission says left its salaries below recommended levels. "We've been trying to get salaries ... we're still a $150,000 short of salaries for the 2019 study that was done," Ben Stone said.

Catherine introduced Ross Hammonds as the commission's new assistant director; she said Hammonds joined from the Public Service Commission as general counsel and had been on the job less than a month. Catherine also thanked State Personnel Board (SPB) and Legislative Budget Office (LBO) contacts and said the commission has operated with a very small budget and staff.

The commission asked the Appropriations Committee to consider the modest increases so the office can continue to answer public inquiries and enforce filing requirements. Catherine said the ITS quote and the personnel study were on file with committee staff and that the commission would provide any additional documentation requested.

No formal vote was recorded in the provided transcript excerpt.