Senate committee hears testimony on bill to expand local conflict-of-interest rules for major development projects

A Senate committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 66, a proposal to require local government officers to recuse themselves from decisions and contracts involving major development projects in which they or closely connected individuals have a substantial interest.

Senator Mike Thompson, the bill’s author, said the measure is intended to be “a matter basically of anti corruption” and described instances he said he has observed where local officials advocated for projects that would personally benefit them. “It only takes one bad actor,” Thompson told the committee, arguing the bill would strengthen public confidence in local decision-making.

The bill’s text, participants noted, would cover a broad range of people and projects. A staff explainer during the hearing pointed to definitions in the bill that describe who counts as a “local governmental officer” and link the statute’s “major development project” definition to Renewable Energy Systems such as wind and solar. The sponsor and proponents said that scope is intentional because they see frequent disputes around…