State Rep. Tarra Simmons, the Democratic lawmaker representing much of the Kitsap Peninsula, is headed for a rare public ethics showdown in Olympia in early June. The Legislative Ethics Board says it found “reasonable cause” to probe allegations that Simmons used her office and campaign surplus to benefit two nonprofits. The two-day proceeding, set for June 869, 2026, is slated to be the Legislature’s first public ethics hearing in about a decade.
Board Locks In Public Hearing
The board’s 13-page “Order Setting Hearing” lays out the allegations and formally schedules the sessions on June 869, according to the Legislative Ethics Board. The order walks through a trail of meetings, donations and budget provisos that staff say created conflicts of interest and possible special privilege violations. The hearing will take place in Olympia, with an administrative law judge handling procedural questions while the board weighs the substance.
What Investigators Say Happened
Reporting that republishes the board’s findings details a chain of actions the board highlights: a 2023 proviso to fund an equity dashboard, a 2024 supplemental budget that included language for a $500,000 subcontract, and personal donations from Simmons’ campaign surplus that investigators say blurred professional and private ties, according to KUOW. The order also recounts text messages and meetings that led a treasurer at one nonprofit to complain and later file an ethics complaint. The complainant alleges Simmons pushed for state support for groups with which she had employment or personal ties.
Campaign Cash Under Scrutiny
Separately, the state Public Disclosure Commission concluded in May that Simmons improperly disposed of surplus campaign funds by donating to a nonprofit that was not yet registered in Washington. She signed a Statement of Understanding and paid a $300 penalty, the Public Disclosure Commission says. That PDC action resolved one complaint but did not stop the Legislative Ethics Board from pressing ahead with its own inquiry. Advocates on both sides say the twin reviews show how campaign finance rules and legislative ethics standards can overlap while still leading to different remedies.
Complaints Pile Up, Context Grows
The ethics complaint that triggered the board’s investigation was filed in February 2025 by a nonprofit treasurer and alleges conduct stretching back to 2023, according to reporting by InvestigateWest. InvestigateWest and other outlets note a separate complaint from local Democrats about two $15,000 donations Simmons made from surplus funds, and that the controversy has landed in the middle of an election year for Simmons. The complaints and the board order together sketch a picture that, in the board’s view, justifies a public fact-finding process.
What Simmons Risks, What Comes Next
If the board finds Simmons violated the Ethics Act, it can impose sanctions that include fines and orders to fix any conflicts. Reporting on the board’s process notes fines can reach $5,000 per violation, and the board may require payment of the state’s costs. The order lays out how both sides can present evidence and call witnesses during the June sessions. The proceedings will be open to the public, with the board’s motions and hearings listed for live stream on TVW.
Simmons has flatly rejected the board’s findings. Her attorney, Doug McKinley, called the investigation “the most flawed and one-sided I’ve ever seen,” and Simmons has filed motions seeking to dismiss or narrow the board’s review, according to KUOW. The hearing will give the legislator a rare opportunity to challenge the board’s account in full public view.
The Legislative Ethics Board’s public sessions on June 869 are expected to draw close attention locally and statewide. Anyone who wants to follow the showdown can check the board’s order and TVW’s schedule for livestream details. We will update as the hearing unfolds and when the board issues its rulings.
