Senator Bobby Joe Champion returned as chair of subcommittee on ethical conduct after 7–3 roll call

On June 13, 2025, the Minnesota Senate Committee on Rules and Administration voted 7–3 to remove Senator Pappas as acting chair of the subcommittee on ethical conduct and to appoint Senator Bobby Joe Champion as chair.

Chair Murphy moved that the committee restore Senator Bobby Joe Champion as chair of the subcommittee on ethical conduct. Before the vote, Senator Johnson asked Champion about his history with ethics complaints. "To your question, this was the second one ... if I count both, it would be 2," Champion said when asked how many ethics complaints had been filed against him during his tenure in the senate. When asked how those complaints were resolved, Champion said there was no finding in either matter.

Senator Johnson said he was "a little bit concerned" about the public image of returning a senator who had been the subject of multiple ethics complaints to lead the subcommittee. Senator Frentz countered that not returning Champion would itself send a negative signal and said he supported Champion's return. Senator Pappas moved the appointment; a roll call was requested and the clerk recorded seven ayes and three nays. The clerk's roll call in the transcript shows the three recorded no votes were Senator Coleman, Senator Johnson and Senator Limmer. The ayes were Senators Murphy, Champion, France, Marty, Miller, Pappas and Rest.

There was no formal finding or sanction recorded in the meeting transcript on the prior complaints; Champion stated that there had been no findings in those instances. After the roll call, the chair declared the motion adopted and the subcommittee appointment effective immediately.

The committee then concluded its business and adjourned.