Providence, RI – Today the Rhode Island Ethics Commission voted to amend the Code of Ethics to close a loophole that allows public officials and employees to take unlimited gifts from lobbyists. The Commission did this at the request of Common Cause Rhode Island which filed a petition to close the loophole. This is the first time since 2012 that the Commission has voted to strengthen the state’s ethics laws.

“This is a good move towards more ethical government in Rhode Island,” said John Marion, executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island. “We are grateful to the Commission for taking this important step to strengthen our ethics laws and reduce the influence of special interests in Rhode Island politics.”

In December 2024, Common Cause Rhode Island petitioned the Rhode Island Ethics Commission to, among other things, categorically include registered lobbyists among those whose gifts public officials and employees are limited in accepting. Before today’s change, gifts were only limited if they came from someone who is an “interested person” because they may benefit financially from decisions made by the public employee or official. Common Cause Rhode Island believes that gifts from lobbyists are a conflict of interest regardless of whether the lobbyist or their employer benefits financially.

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