Ethics panel debates use of state resources for graduation certificates, leans toward constituent-only guidance

Committee staff told the panel that in 2025 there were requests for roughly 15,000 graduation certificates and congratulatory letters. Members debated whether large mailings of certificates are an appropriate use of state resources and whether letters can be mailed to recipients outside a legislator's district, including students enrolled in online schools.

Kevin, the committee administrator, told members that requests in 2025 "were requests for 15,000 of these that then were distributed," and said the issue raised questions about whether the activity should be covered by office allowances or be considered a legislative purpose. Committee members noted an existing advisory opinion that restricts distribution outside a legislator's district and said online schooling complicates enforcement.

Representative Elise Galvin recommended limiting mails to constituents and suggested including the benefit-and-loan list in training to help members identify potential conflicts. "Maybe it would make sense ... that the person they're sending the letter to or the graduation certificate has to live in their district, let's say, as a registered voter," the chair summarized after discussion.

Opinions varied: some members supported allowing high-school and college graduation acknowledgments paid from office allowances; others said sending letters for early grades or to non-constituents risks appearing partisan or improper. The committee directed staff to draft standardized guidance, consider including it in training materials, and clarify whether the print shop charges back office accounts for these items.

Next steps: staff will craft standardized guidance on graduation certificates and constituent mailings, clarify print-shop billing and office-account rules, and circulate a proposed approach for committee review.