Supervisor Fielder Proposed New Ethics Legislation
The Board of Supervisors will weigh rules on behested payments, software bidding, and the Sunshine Task Force.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Corruption
Live Poll
Should your local government implement stricter transparency rules for public contracts and official donations?
San Franciscans dealing with city transparency hurdles may see changes to how officials solicit funds and manage oversight committees. Supervisor Jackie Fielder introduced three proposals aimed at closing loopholes in behested payments and software contract bidding.
Why it matters
The measures address persistent concerns over government accountability following the 2020 arrest of Mohammed Nuru for corrupt payment practices. It remains to be seen if the Board of Supervisors will move these proposals forward given the influence of institutional bidding rules.
The city recently granted a $33 million extension on a $5.9 million software contract to OpenGov. Legislation to reform behested payments will require 8 out of 11 votes from the Board of Supervisors to pass.
The players
Jackie Fielder
The San Francisco Supervisor sponsoring three new pieces of legislation regarding government oversight.
Mohammed Nuru
The former city official whose 2020 arrest for public corruption spurred ongoing debates over behested payments.
Sunshine Ordinance Task Force
A city body responsible for public records compliance that has not held a meeting since June 2026.
London Breed
The former mayor who was found by the task force to have violated city records law.
David Chiu
The current City Attorney identified by the task force as having violated public records requirements.
The details
The proposals target long-standing transparency gaps, including a Sunshine Ordinance Task Force that has lacked a quorum since June 2026. One measure would allow members to remain seated if replacements are not named within 60 days. Another mandate requires officials to disclose all donors and amounts for behested payments, which currently lack transparent reporting requirements.
Timeline
2020: Mohammed Nuru was arrested for the corrupt use of behested payments.
October 2025: The city awarded an initial $5.9 million contract to OpenGov.
June 2026: The Sunshine Ordinance Task Force ceased meeting due to a lack of quorum.
Across the Bay
The proposals aim to revitalize oversight structures established under the city's Sunshine Ordinance. This effort follows a pattern of heightened scrutiny on internal city practices that predates the 2020 corruption scandals.
Residents should watch for upcoming committee hearings where the Board of Supervisors will debate whether to open software contracts to competitive bidding. These meetings offer a window for public testimony on how city funds are managed.
The takeaway
Transparency rules in city government are currently facing a potential overhaul that could change how local contracts are awarded. Keep an eye on Board of Supervisor agendas to see if these transparency measures reach the floor for a final vote.
Further reading
Track ongoing developments in local government accountability on our San Francisco Corruption page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mission Local.
Live Poll
Should your local government implement stricter transparency rules for public contracts and official donations?
