Livingston County proposes overhaul to ethics and disclosure code

The Livingston County Board of Supervisors on July 22 introduced Proposed Local Law D-2026, a comprehensive amendment and restatement of the county’s Ethics and Disclosure Law intended to align local standards with state benchmarks and modernize disclosure practices. The board scheduled a public hearing on the draft for 1:35 p.m. on Aug. 12, 2026 in the Board Assembly Room.

The draft text clarifies definitions of key terms (including “County Official,” “interest,” and “relative”), requires written disclosure when a discretionary matter could create a conflict, and institutes an annual statement of financial disclosure due May 15. It also limits certain investments and private employment that would impair independence, sets a $75 combined annual threshold for gifts that may influence official actions, designates a County Compliance Officer to issue advisory opinions, and makes the code effective upon filing with the New York Secretary of State. The proposed law states, "The Board of Supervisors recognizes that maintaining public trust requires a proactive commitment to regularly reviewing, updating, and modernizing its ethical frameworks to reflect evolving statutory updates and best practices."