An investigation concluded that Oregon state Rep. Lamar Wise failed to disclose a $25,000 stipend he received from the Portland-based nonprofit Seeding Justice, according to findings reported this week. The matter now heads to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission, which is scheduled to consider a stipulated final agreement at its regular meeting Friday.
The investigation, reported by Willamette Week, concluded that Wise left the Seeding Justice payment off his 2026 statement of economic interest and also failed to list active lobbyists tied to his employer, Oregon AFSCME, in a separate section of the same form. If the commission approves the stipulated agreement Friday, it would drop the second potential violation and close the case with a letter of education for Wise; the agreement describes evidence that could support an order finding one violation of Oregon law if submitted at a contested case hearing. The agreement has already been signed by Wise, per the same report.
Oregon law requires legislators to file annual statements of economic interest disclosing any income source that exceeded $1,000 in the prior calendar year, a threshold meant to promote transparency and flag potential conflicts of interest. Separately, state ethics law requires lawmakers to list the names of active lobbyists associated with their employer. Wise received the $25,000 Seeding Justice stipend in January 2025, according to the reporting, and Seeding Justice is described as a Portland-based funder of social-change programs.
Commission Launched Inquiry in October
The Oregon Ethics Commission voted on Oct. 9 to investigate two potential ethics violations tied to Wise. According to OPB, the complaint centered on Wise's failure to report $25,000 in stipend income from the group on his 2026 statement. OPB reported that Wise said he has since amended his financial form to accurately reflect the Seeding Justice income, and the amended filing also named the lobbyists associated with Oregon AFSCME.
Wise described the matter as an honest mistake that he swiftly corrected, telling OPB he had been “completely transparent with... the Ethics Commission to resolve this honest mistake, and expect it to be resolved soon.” He has worked as an organizer with Oregon AFSCME since 2019, and the reporting indicates he worked with the commission to correct the errors after being notified. Wise did not respond to requests for comment from Willamette Week.
A Recent Legislature, A Familiar Pattern
Wise, 35, was appointed to the Oregon Legislature in November 2025 to fill the vacancy left by the death of Democratic Rep. Hòa Nguyễn. He represents House District 48, which encompasses Southeast Portland, Boring, Damascus and Pleasant Valley, and he won his most recent election by a 17-point margin after facing a well-funded challenge from Republican tech worker Andrew Morrison of Damascus.
Wise's case is not the only recent instance of an Oregon lawmaker facing an ethics finding over incomplete disclosures. In January, Rep. Greg Smith, a Republican from Heppner, conceded violating state law by not fully disclosing clients of his private consulting company, according to OregonLive. A commission investigation in that case found Smith's company had not reported its dealings with Morrow Development Corp., and Smith agreed to accept a letter of education from the Oregon Government Ethics Commission to resolve the matter.
The Oregon Government Ethics Commission will decide at Friday's meeting whether to accept the stipulated agreement involving Wise and formally close his case with a letter of education.
