LOS ANGELES COUNTY ESTABLISHES FIRST-EVER INDEPENDENT ETHICS COMMISSION
May 19th, 2026
LOS ANGELES, CA — Today, Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath’s amended motion to establish the first independent Ethics Commission and Office of Ethics Compliance in the history of Los Angeles County was approved by the Board of Supervisors. This milestone advances the mandate approved by voters through Measure G in 2024.
“Los Angeles County is taking a historic step toward stronger ethics, accountability, and public trust,” said Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. “Establishing the County’s first-ever independent Ethics Commission and Office of Ethics Compliance—through a unanimous vote of the Board—delivers on the will of the voters and marks a monumental step toward greater transparency and accountability in County government. This framework was shaped by the thoughtful work of the Governance Reform Task Force, ethics experts, and community voices who helped strengthen these recommendations. LA County voters gave us a clear mandate through Measure G to act on ethics in 2026, and this motion puts the structure, timeline, and resources in place to make that vision a reality.”
The motion directs County departments to begin establishing the operational, staffing, and legal infrastructure necessary to launch the Ethics Commission in 2026, while also preparing a charter amendment for voter consideration on the November 2026 ballot to permanently enshrine the Commission’s independence in the County Charter.
The proposal builds on significant work led by the Governance Reform Task Force and its Ad Hoc Subcommittee on the Establishment of an Independent Ethics Commission. The motion:
- Directs County departments to identify existing ethics-related funding and positions to support implementation;
- Allocates funding in the FY 2026–27 budget to establish the Ethics Commission and Office of Ethics Compliance;
- Begins recruitment efforts for commissioners and ethics staff;
- Calls for the drafting of an interim ordinance to establish the Ethics Commission and Office of Ethics Compliance immediately; and
- Prepares a charter amendment for the November 2026 ballot to formalize the Commission’s long-term independence and structure.
Tuesday’s meeting included robust dialogue regarding Ethics Commission composition. The appointment structure for the Ethics Commission approved, as amended by the Board, includes: one commissioner each appointed by the Assessor, Chair of the Board, District Attorney, Sheriff, and the Governance Reform Task Force. ThoseThe five would then nominate the remaining four commissioners. All appointees require Board approval. other two seats.
“There has been a tremendous amount of thoughtful dialogue — both within the Governance Reform Task Force and with the public — about the appointment structure for this Commission,” added Supervisor Horvath. “This is exactly the point of Measure G: to strengthen County government through robust public discussion and input about accountability, transparency, and good governance. We are now moving forward with the GRTF-recommended appointment structure, and the Charter Review Commission will have the opportunity to review how the independent Ethics Commission works in practice on a going forward basis.”
The motion directs County Counsel to return to the Board by June 30, 2026, with a draft interim ordinance establishing the Ethics Commission and Office of Ethics Compliance.
Los Angeles County would join the City and County of San Francisco and Orange County as the third county in the State of California to establish an ethics commission.
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