HI HB290

Increases maximum administrative fines for ethics code violations from $500 to $1,000 per violation, and increases fines for late financial disclosure filings from $50 to $75 for legislators and employees and from $25 to $50 for candidates.

Restores statutory protections for legislators carrying out "legislative functions" and establishes rules requiring task force members to publicly disclose conflicts of interest that may be affected by their official actions.

Amends the lobbyist law by raising the threshold for mandatory lobbyist registration from $750 to $1,000 in expenditures and clarifies that grant application preparation by nonprofits under chapter 42F is not considered lobbying.

Authorizes the ethics commission staff to provide confidential guidance on ethics matters and allows the commission to resolve violations through written agreements with respondents as an alternative to contested case hearings.

Changes notification method for late financial disclosures from registered mail to email or first-class mail, and allows employers to file termination notices for lobbyists who fail to do so themselves.