|
Ethics Matters Newsletter April 2026 |
|
A Note from the Executive Director
It is SEI filing season. That means the cherry trees are blooming on the Capitol Mall, and certain public officials all over Oregon are demonstrating their commitment to transparency and accountability to their constituents by filing their annual Statement of Economic Interest (SEI). Each year, OGEC staff dedicate their time and efforts to train new SEI filers, to answer questions, and to help people file their SEI reports. We are here to help!
OGEC staff have also been busy updating and revising the Guide for Public Officials. As you may know, the Guide provides explanations and examples for the ethics statutes in ORS Chapter 244. The updated Guide will be formally adopted by the Commission in May and will then be available on our website.
Finally, I want to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to all of OGEC’s staff. They step up when needed, and each of them contributes so much to helping this agency grow. I am so impressed by their efforts and positive attitudes.
~ Susan Myers, Executive Director
|
|
Have You Filed Your 2026 SEI Yet?
If you are an SEI (Statement of Economic Interest) filer this year, the window to file your SEI is currently open!
The filing period runs from March 15th to April 15th every year.
Website resources, and OGEC's Electronic Filing System (EFS), are available 24/7.
During business hours, you can:
- call OGEC and file your SEI over the phone
- call to ask questions about the SEI and get help from OGEC staff
- attend a live, instructor-led training on filing your SEI
April 15, 2026 is the deadline for filing your Statement of Economic Interest on time. Failure to file may result in civil penalties.
|
|
Legislative Updates in 2026
Several bills passed in the Oregon Legislature in 2026 that change how the laws in OGEC's jurisdiction apply. These bills are awaiting Governor Kotek's signature before going into effect. Let's take a look at some of the legislation that was passed.
|
|
Public Meetings Law Chapter 192
HB 4177 made changes to:
- How officials may talk outside of public meetings.
- How OGEC oversees and trains on the Public Meetings Law.
- The responsibilities and duties of a governing body and a public body.
- How governing bodies and public bodies may cure violations.
Subscribe to receive OGEC updates on the implementation of this bill.
|
Government Ethics Law Chapter 244
HB 4017 addressed campaign funds being used for specified security related expenses.
- The bill included a new gift exception in ORS 244.020(7)(b).
HB 4161 added exceptions to the prohibited use of office statutes related to:
- Food and beverages provided by the public body.
- Merchandise provided by the public body.
|
|
Test Your Knowledge: Conflicts of Interest
Conflicts of interest are a normal part of being a public official in Oregon. It’s important that you know how to identify a conflict and how to handle it to properly follow Ethics Law. Since the law was updated with House Bill 2930 in 2025, let’s do a quick refresher on what a conflict of interest is.
As a public official, you are met with a conflict of interest when:
-
You take an official action (such as a vote, decision, or recommendation)
-
Your action could or would create a financial impact (either a benefit or a detriment)
-
That financial impact is on you, your relatives, your household members, or an associated business
Whether it’s an actual or potential conflict of interest depends on the certainty of the financial impact. [ORS 244.020(1)&(13)]. If you vote on something that has a certain financial impact on your relative, that would be an actual conflict of interest. If you make a decision that has a possible financial impact on your household member, that would be a potential conflict of interest.
|
|
1. Do You Have a Conflict of Interest?
You are a board member on your county’s Road District Board. The Board is going to be voting on whether it should re-evaluate the need for road development on land that sits next to your house. The vote will only decide if you start the discussion about developing a road on the land, final decisions about implementing road development will not be made.
Do you have a conflict of interest? Choose options below:
|
|
1. I do not have a conflict of interest |
|
2. I have a potential conflict of interest |
|
3. I have an actual conflict of interest |
|
2. Do You Have a Conflict of Interest?
You work for a public agency in Oregon and part of your duties include signing off on contracts. Your roommate has started a freelance contract with your agency and the contract is now waiting for you to sign.
Do you have a conflict of interest? Choose options below:
|
|
1. I do not have a conflict of interest |
|
2. I have a potential conflict of interest |
|
3. I have an actual conflict of interest |
|
How'd you do?
Hopefully that gave you a better idea of how to identify a conflict of interest as you perform your duties as a public official. Remember that recognizing the conflict is only one part of the process; you must also disclose the conflict according to Ethics Law. The law outlines how you should handle a conflict of interest depending on what type of public official you are. Judges, Legislative Assembly members, elected officials, and appointed officials all have different disclosure and handling methods. You can view more about the disclosure process on the second page of our Conflicts of Interest Quick Reference.
|
|
Webinars
Looking for a review of Oregon Government Ethics Law?
Registering as a lobbyist for the first time this year?
Take a live, instructor-led training with OGEC. Webinars are offered monthly on Oregon Government Ethics Law and Lobby Law topics, including:
- Overview of Oregon Government Ethics Law for New Employees
- Conflicts of Interest and Prohibited Use of Office
|
Public Meetings Law Training Update
We know folks have some questions about the upcoming changes to Public Meetings Law and want to address how they may or may not impact the webinars and trainings you have scheduled.
- The training we are currently providing is on how the current Public Meetings Law statutes in ORS 192.610 - 192.705 apply.
- This training continues to satisfy the training requirement in 192.700.
- We will be providing training on Public Meetings Law through June 4, 2026.
- If HB 4177 goes into effect, starting June 5, 2026 there will be a pause on Public Meetings Law trainings.
- Many parts of Public Meetings Law will not change as a result of this bill. However, this training will not and cannot address any of the changes in HB 4177.
-
Sign-up for email updates about Public Meetings Law trainings. OGEC will provide updates on training availability, resources, timelines as we have them.
|
|
 |
|
Angela Nolan, Trainer
Please join us in welcoming Angela Nolan to the OGEC team! She is coming to us after 20 years with the IRS in many different capacities of helping the public. She has a business degree from Concordia University, loves the color green and has three cats named Jackson, Dee and Tillie. Her favorite movie is Muriel’s Wedding, and she really geeks out about personal finance and investing. Angela is excited to join our team because she enjoys working with the public and helping government become more accessible. She is a great addition, and we look forward to all she will bring to OGEC.
|
|
|
 |
|
Silas Patterson, Investigator
Please join us in welcoming Silas Patterson to the OGEC team! Silas was born and raised here in Oregon. He received his bachelor's degree in Sociology from Whitworth University and his master’s degree in criminology from Boise State University. Before coming to OGEC he was an instructor at the University of South Florida, and the Managing Editor for Justice Quarterly. Silas and Angela have a few things in common - Silas' favorite color is also green, and he has three cats, too. Their names are Prada, Saint, and Rain. Silas' favorite movie is The Dark Knight, and his favorite part of being an investigator, so far, is the staff. He loves reading science fiction, fantasy, and historical novels. We're excited that Silas is joining us at OGEC, and we look forward to his journey helping Oregonians maintain the public trust.
|
|
|
Join Our Team!
OGEC is hiring an Investigator (Compliance Specialist 2), and the recruitment closes April 17, 2026. Investigators are responsible for explaining Oregon Government Ethics Law, Lobby Law, and Public Meetings Law and the corresponding administrative rules.
The investigator position includes:
- Conducting thorough investigations into possible law violations
- Presenting reports to OGEC's Commission at public meetings
- Providing written and verbal advice to public officials, lobbyists, and members of the public
|
|
Become an OGEC Commissioner
Are you interested in government transparency? There are periodically Commission positions open and applications are kept on file for two years. Meetings occur every four weeks. Information on previous and upcoming Commission meetings can be found on our Meetings webpage.
No more than three of the members of the Commission may be from the same political party. Please make sure to state your political affiliation in your application.
For more information and to submit your application, click the "Apply Here" button to see the position description on Workday.
|
|
Upcoming Commission Meetings
April 10, 2026
May 9, 2026
June 12, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
