Ben Graham — Ben Graham is introduced as a senior from Chatteroy, Washington, majoring in Agricultural and Life Sciences.
Tim Hebden — Tim Hebden from Nampa was introduced as a student, later identified more specifically as a senior in Agricultural Economics.
Natalie Martin — Introduced as a senior from Rufus, Oregon, majoring in Ag-Econ.
Camille Merkin — Camille Merkin from Jerome was introduced as a junior, noted to be in Ag Econ, and identified as a former Senate page in 2023.
Jackson Merley — Introduced as a senior from Colton, Washington, studying soil and water systems.
Anna Pollock — Introduced as a senior from Homedale, Idaho, studying plant science.
Logan Romans — Logan Romans is introduced as a student from Homedale, Idaho, studying political science with a history minor, and is also identified as a senior in political science with a history minor.
Thomas Roundtree — Introduced as a senior from Meridian majoring in Ag Econ.
Macy Smith — Introduced as a senior from Grangeville majoring in Ag Econ.
Parker Trail — Introduced as a senior from Glenns Ferry studying soil and water systems.
Caden Water — Caden Water is introduced as a sophomore from Lakeview, Oregon, majoring in agricultural economics.
Jared Stewart — Introduced as the administrator for Agriculture Inspections Division.
Jared Stewart — Identified himself as the administrator of the Agricultural Inspections Division and began presenting the stone fruit rule.
Jared Stewart — Explained the Agricultural Inspections Division's role in third-party inspections and export certification.
Jared Stewart — Closed the stone fruit presentation and stood for questions.
Jared Stewart — Introduced the next docket on bulk permits and retail sale of potatoes.
Jared Stewart — Explained that the potatoes rule is shorter and also part of the ZBR rules.
Jared Stewart — Explained the potato rule changes, including updated federal marketing order citation and sizing/grade changes for Russet Burbank potatoes.
Jared Stewart — Continued explaining the rationale for the potato marketing order changes and cleanup language.
Jared Stewart — Closed the potato rule presentation and stood for questions.
Jared Stewart — Introduced the weights and measures rule and began background on the program.
Jared Stewart — Described the devices inspected by the program and staffing levels.
Jared Stewart — Provided inspection statistics and explained the recheck process for rejected devices.
Jared Stewart — Explained that rechecks are performed when requested and that some items are not rechecked if not worth the time.
Jared Stewart — Compared current workload with 1979 and praised staff performance.
Jared Stewart — Explained additional duties of the program and identified the rule as a ZBR rule on page 24.
Jared Stewart — Explained that the rule was updated to match the latest incorporated handbook publication.
Jared Stewart — Explained that duplicative language was removed to avoid conflicts between the rule and handbook.
Jared Stewart — Finished explaining the ZBR cleanup and stood for questions.
Jared Stewart — Answered that the definition sections were removed because they are already in statute.
Jared Stewart — Was thanked and dismissed after the weights and measures discussion.
Jared Stewart — Named as the presenter for the next docket.
Jared Stewart — Introduced himself and began presenting the organic food products rule.
Ron Taylor — Senator Ron Taylor asked where the definitions removed from the bill ended up and whether they remained in the handbook, prompting a brief acknowledgment in response.
Brian Slebaugh — Brian Slebaugh, administrator for the Division of Agricultural Resources, presented docket 0203-203-501 on the Rules Governing Pesticide and Chemigation Use and Application. He explained the rule’s statutory basis and purpose, noted that the agency conducted an agency-initiated negotiated rulemaking to reduce administrative burden and provide regulatory relief, and described the main updates, including changes to license terms and categories, longer sunset provisions for commercial applicators, and provisions addressing drone applications. He also reported that the proposal received several comments with strong support and some additional clarifying language suggestions.
Mr. Stewart — Addressed as the presenter being asked for questions.
Tammy Nichols — During the transition to the next docket, the speaker thanks the chair and returns the gavel to the chairman, marking the handoff in meeting control.
Christy Zito — Christy Zito is identified as the Vice Chair who takes over the meeting, with a later brief reference confirming her role in that transition.
Christy Zito — Joked that Mr. Stewart was getting off easy and then moved the committee to the next docket.
Christy Zito — The speaker thanked Vice Chair Zito for helping the committee go over the rules today.
Rachel Bickerton — Rachel Bickerton was invited to the podium and introduced herself as the Director of Government and External Relations for the University of Idaho’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. She explained that the group was the 24th University of Idaho agricultural economics public policy and legislative tour, sponsored by Idaho food producers and other agricultural industry members, and then began introducing the visiting students.
Rachel Cahill — Rachel Cahill is introduced as a senior from Adel, Oregon, majoring in Agricultural Economics.
Tammy Nichols — Senator Tammy Nichols opened the committee meeting as chair from District 10, noted that the committee would be hearing rules, welcomed and thanked the visitors for attending, wished them an educational visit to the Capitol, and then turned the gavel over to Vice Chair Zito to begin the rules process.