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Senate committee backs interim study to set rules for legislative ethics panels
Summary
The Legislative Administration committee voted to pass Senate Joint Resolution 28, asking the Legislative Council to conduct an interim study to produce step-by-step procedures for legislative ethics committees and report findings to the 70th Legislature.
Senator Mary Ann Dunwell presented Senate Joint Resolution 28 and the Legislative Administration committee approved it in executive action on April 9, 2025. The resolution requests an interim study of ethics and asks that the study's final results be reported to the 70th Legislature.
Dunwell, representing the eastern part of Lewis and Clark County, told the committee the goal is practical: "the ethics committee could benefit from some procedures that are outlined" so members will have clear steps to follow. Legislative staff clarified the resolution would be assigned as a study issue by the Legislative Council, not the committee on committees, and that the study would examine whether rules or statutory language should guide future ethics panels.
During debate, several members said the recent ethics review process had been confusing and slow. "It turned into 'even the person being an investigator tried to turn it into a courtroom," Senator Emmerich said, arguing that a simpler, clearer process could speed reviews. Senator Fuller said he also supports having guidelines for ethics hearings after observing different approaches in previous years.
The committee approved SJR 28 by voice vote. Chair Rickey announced the resolution will be carried forward by the minority leader, Senator Pat Flowers.
The resolution does not itself change ethics law; it asks for an interim study and a report back to the next legislature. The Legislative Council will determine which interim body conducts the review and the study's scope and schedule.
