Sanford Neil Berland

The meeting commenced with logistical details regarding the open meeting law compliance and remote participation. Key discussion items included the approval of the previous public session minutes from December 17, 2025, with a necessary correction noted. The operations update provided significant details on ethics training completion metrics, noting substantial increases in trained employees and online module usage, while also addressing subsequent data adjustments made by the payroll office. The budget update detailed the executive budget proposal, noting a $250,000 reduction compared to expected funding and the resulting necessity to halt the filling of four vacant positions pending final legislative budget approval. Discussions also covered proposals for legislative changes regarding lobbying registration fees, shifting to an annual fee structure, and imposing late fees for ethics training completion, though the agency would not retain these generated funds. Furthermore, proposed amendments to the Public Financial Disclosure Form, including changes to thresholds, were reviewed.

The meeting included staff reports covering operations updates, noting a decline in open and pending matters, an increase in Failure-to-File notices for academic filers, and the progress of ethics training completion rates, including for lobbyists and clients. The Compliance Audit and Review Unit is on target to surpass its review goal. The session also featured a review of overdue Financial Disclosure Statements by agency and lobbying activity data for September-October, highlighting a shift in lobbying targets. Budget updates for FY 2025-2026 and FY 2026-2027 were presented, including a request for additional technology funding. Per diem payments were reported, and a staffing update noted the addition of a new Assistant Director of Ethics Training. Following an Executive Session concerning personnel, litigation, and investigative matters, the Commission voted unanimously to approve an advisory opinion regarding the application of ethics laws to a legal defense fund. Furthermore, Proposal 8, concerning codifying sexual harassment as a violation of the Code of Ethics and adding monetary penalties, was restored to the 2026 Legislative Agenda, and staff was asked to explore rulemaking for a simplified complaint resolution process.

The meeting included discussion of the operations report, investigations and enforcement, advice and guidance, lobbying division data, financial disclosure academic filings, the training unit, compliance audit and review, and communications division. The commission discussed the dashboard and the ability to generate reports on the website. There was also discussion of the budget update.

The meeting included discussion of operations updates, including work by Investigations and Enforcement staff, the Ethics Division, and the Lobbying Division. There was also discussion of preliminary lobbying data reports, the FDS Unit, and training. The commission discussed the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 budget, as well as the preliminary July-August bi-monthly lobbying data report. The commission also discussed commissioner per diem payments, staffing updates, and the proposed 2026 commission legislative agenda. Additionally, the commission discussed the proposed commission meeting schedule and matters related to litigation and legal advice.

The meeting included an operations update, review of investigation and enforcement statistics, and discussion regarding guidance requests and publications. There was also discussion of lobbying volume statistics, preliminary reports on lobbying data, and a transition to a dashboard for data propagation. Financial disclosures, training, and the status of delinquent filings were also addressed.