AN ACT to provide an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the ethics commission; to create and enact a new section to chapter 54-03 and two new sections to chapter 54-66 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to immunity and a defense for individuals voting on legislation, closure of a matter of the ethics commission, rules for complaint management time standards, and an ethics commission annual report; to amend and reenact sections 12.1-13-02, 54-66-01, 54-66-04, 54-66-05, 54-66-06, and 54-66-07, subsection 2 of section 54-66-08, and sections 54-66-09, 54-66-10, 54-66-12, and 54-66-18 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to immunity from criminal prosecution, definitions, ethics commission meetings, complaints, an informal resolution process, law enforcement referrals, findings, appeals, confidential information related to a complaint, and conflicts of interest; and to declare an emergency.

Added immunity from criminal prosecution for legislators who vote on legislation after disclosing conflicts of interest and following legislative rules, with informal ethics commission advice serving as an affirmative defense.

Modified ethics commission appropriation amounts, changing the base level from $1,041,374 to $1,041,374 (unchanged) but reducing enhancements from $308,563 to $316,707 and new and vacant FTE pool from $246,304 to $9,935.

Added new requirements for ethics commission meetings, complaint management time standards, and an annual ethics commission report to the legislature.

Added new sections to the North Dakota Century Code establishing procedures for ethics commission meetings, complaint management, informal resolution processes, law enforcement referrals, findings, appeals, and confidential information handling.

Modified definitions in the North Dakota Century Code to clarify terms related to ethics commission operations, complaints, and conflicts of interest.