JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Motivated by the resignations of two lawmakers, the Missouri Legislature on Thursday advanced another round of ethics-related bills, including a measure to stop legislators from becoming lobbyists immediately.

The wave of proposed changes to the state's loose ethics laws comes after two former legislators stepped down last year amid accusations of inappropriate behavior toward interns.

John Diehl, the former Republican House speaker, left office on the last day of the 2015 session after admitting to exchanging sexually suggestive text messages with a Capitol intern. Following allegations he sexually harassed interns, a former Democratic state senator from Independence, Paul LeVota, resigned months later.

The Missouri House in response required sexual harassment training for all members and staff.

A slew of legislation aimed at cleaning up the Capitol's image is gaining traction, with supporters saying it's a step toward restoring public trust and skeptics saying proposed changes wouldn't have prevented the tumultuous end to last session. Here's a look at some of the most recent ethics bills to move forward.

A Senate panel on Thursday approved a bill that would enact a cooling-off period before public officials can register as lobbyists. The version of the bill first passed by the House would create a one-year prohibition on lobbying after terms expire for lawmakers, statewide elected officials and gubernatorial appointees. Senators tweaked the bill to start the cooling-off period for gubernatorial appointees when they leave office, the idea being those officials can continue to serve after their terms end if the governor doesn't find replacements immediately.

The Senate panel also advanced a bill to increase reporting of travel paid for by not-for-profits from the current once a year to 90 days after the trip or after the receipt is received. The House version would have required reporting after 30 days.

While top Democrats including Gov. Jay Nixon are calling for limits on how much money donors can give to political candidates, such a measure appears unlikely to pass. Republican Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard on Thursday said campaign-finance limits won't be a part of a Senate bill on ethics.

House members voted 157-4 to create greater reporting requirements for task-force members appointed by the governor. The bill would classify task-force and other special executive-branch appointees directed to make recommendations on how to spend taxpayer money as public officials under state law. That would mean they'd have to disclose their personal finances publicly and would be subject to conflict-of-interest laws.

The House also voted 157-3 to pass a bill that would prohibit candidates from investing campaign money in most circumstances.