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Committee carries SB 94 to allow technical review, debates campaign-funded security and furnishings exemptions
Summary
Lawmakers carried SB 94 over to give staff time to review technical requirements for statements of economic interest after several local officials were reportedly disqualified; the committee also considered and approved amendments allowing campaign funds for certain security measures and exempting campaign-purchased office furnishings from liquidation rules ahead of demolition.
Committee members agreed to carry SB 94 so staff could review technical filing requirements after members described incidents when officials believed they had filed statements of economic interest but were later found not to have done so. A sponsor said they had used an online confirmation and emailed it to the ethics director to verify their filing; members asked staff to examine the technical requirements referenced by the ethics director before further action.
The meeting also included debate and votes on two amendments tied to provisions discussed in committee. One amendment would allow legislators who used campaign funds to purchase office furnishings at the statehouse to dispose of those items (including by donation) in preparation for demolition without needing to comply with the liquidation provisions of statute 17-5-7; the amendment included language tying eligibility to possessions acquired before January 1, 2026 and made the act effective on passage. The committee seconded and approved that amendment.
A second amendment clarified that nothing in the section should be construed to require the state, county or municipality to provide security solely on the basis of the bill. That amendment was moved, seconded and approved.
During discussion, members noted growing concerns about security for elected officials amid recent national incidents and described proposals to allow campaign funds to cover security measures (for example, cameras or other protections) while preserving that government law enforcement agencies would not be required to provide those services because of the bill. The committee carried SB 94 to give staff time to review technical concerns; the transcript records motions and approvals but does not include a detailed roll-call tally for the carryover motion.
