Brazil Bill 3201/26 proposes ban on courtesies for public agents

A new legislative proposal, Bill 3201/26, aims to expand the concept of undue patrimonial advantage within the framework of the Administrative Improbity Law in Brazil. The bill expressly prohibits public agents from accepting courtesies from individuals or companies that have interests in public administration decisions.

Prohibited benefits include cash, movable or immovable property, airfare, lodging, meals, and event registrations. Deputy Tarcísio Motta, the author of the project, stated that the measure seeks to combat disguised forms of personal sponsorship and protect administrative morality, noting that luxury expenses often act as inducements for conflicts of interest.

The proposal includes an exception for academic support. Public servants may receive assistance for participating in lectures or seminars, provided the organizing entity pays essential expenses directly. Such benefits must receive prior authorization and be disclosed on the agency’s transparency portal. The bill must pass through several commissions and be approved by both the Chamber and the Senate to become law.