BILL AS INTRODUCED H.1
2025 Page 1 of 3
VT LEG #378416 v.1
H.1 1
Introduced by Representatives LaLonde of South Burlington, Cina of 2
Burlington, Ode of Burlington, and Sibilia of Dover 3
Referred to Committee on 4
Date: 5
Subject: Executive; governmental ethics; State Ethics Commission; procedure 6
for accepting and referring ethics complaints 7
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to exempt the 8
House and Senate Ethics Panels from the requirement to consult with the 9
Executive Director of the State Ethics Commission on any complaint referred 10
to the Panels by the Commission. 11
An act relating to accepting and referring complaints by the State Ethics 12
Commission 13
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 14
Sec. 1. REPEAL 15
2024 Acts and Resolves No. 171, Sec. 9 (3 V.S.A. § 1223) is repealed. 16
Sec. 2. 3 V.S.A. § 1223 is amended to read: 17
§ 1223. PROCEDURE FOR HANDLING ACCEPTING AND REFERRING 18
COMPLAINTS 19
* * * 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.1
2025 Page 2 of 3
VT LEG #378416 v.1
(b) Preliminary review by Executive Director. The Executive Director 1
shall conduct a preliminary review of complaints made to the Commission in 2
order to take action as set forth in this subsection, which shall include referring 3
complaints to all relevant entities, including the Commission itself. 4
* * * 5
(5) Municipal Code of Ethics. If the complaint alleges a violation of the 6
Municipal Code of Ethics, the Executive Director shall refer the complaint to 7
the designated ethics liaison of the appropriate municipality. 8
(5)(6) Closures. The Executive Director shall close any complaint that 9
he or she the Executive Director does not refer as set forth in subdivisions (1)–10
(4)(5) of this subsection. 11
(c) Consultation on unethical conduct. If the Executive Director refers a 12
complaint under subsection (b) of this section, the Executive Director shall 13
signify any likely unethical conduct described in the complaint. Any entity 14
receiving a referred complaint, except those in subdivisions (b)(5) and 15
(b)(4)(A)–(B) of this section, shall consult with the Commission regarding the 16
application of the State Code of Ethics to facts presented in the complaint. The 17
consultation shall be in writing and occur within 60 days after an entity 18
receives a referred complaint and prior to the entity making a determination on 19
the complaint, meaning either closing a complaint without further investigation 20
or issuing findings following an investigation. 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.1
2025 Page 3 of 3
VT LEG #378416 v.1
(d) Confidentiality. Complaints and related documents in the custody of 1
the Commission shall be exempt from public inspection and copying under the 2
Public Records Act and kept confidential, except as provided for in section 3
1231 of this title. 4
Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATES 5
This act shall take effect on passage, except that Sec. 2 (amending 3 V.S.A. 6
§ 1223) shall take effect on September 1, 2025. 7