Melissa Wintrow — Melissa Wintrow was called during roll call.
Steven Tanner — Called during roll call as Representative Tanner.
Dustin Manwaring — Called during roll call.
Dustin Manwaring — Representative Manwaring first asked for clarification on the consolidated fund analysis, specifically the $13 million decline in miscellaneous revenue and whether it was expected to rebound. The discussion then shifted to veterans' services, where he asked about Alzheimer’s, dementia, and memory care needs in state veterans’ facilities, whether current facilities can meet those needs, and what challenges exist. He continued by expressing interest in investments that would better support veterans in state homes and in how the state can help veterans going forward, including encouraging the administrator to bring forward similar cases where assistance may be possible.
Brandon Mitchell — Called during roll call.
Brian Lenney — Called during roll call as Harris? uncertain; transcript likely refers to Senator Harris but no exact match in expected list.
Brooke Green — Called during roll call.
Brooke Green — Called on after the administrator's response.
Francis Lippett — Introduced herself as a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office and began the presentation.
Ms. Pelloni — Ms. Pelloni is referenced as having presented on deficiency warrants a few weeks earlier.
Dale Hawkins — No member is explicitly named in this section; 'General Donnellan' is referenced as present to answer questions.
Elaine Price — Representative Price is recognized to ask a question.
Elaine Price — Representative Price questions why EMS transition costs are treated as an ongoing enhancement rather than a one-time cost.
Elaine Price — Representative Price asked about the EMS transition costs.
Elaine Price — Representative Price appears to be concluding her question or comment.
Elaine Price — Representative Price asks for clarification on what the 'other' employer category includes in PERSI and whether any NGOs participate. The director responds, and Price then follows up by requesting the list of entities that were grandfathered in.
Ms. Lippett — Ms. Lippett explains the EMS-related budget and staffing questions, clarifying that the costs in question are operating costs tied to administrative support for EMS under a different program. She then walks through why three FTP positions appear to move across budget pages, explaining that prior legislation required agencies to revert unused CEC funding, which then reappears in the base before being removed as an enhancement. She further explains that the base appropriation should be set from the total ongoing appropriation and that the increases do not apply to those positions because CEC is intended only for established, currently filled positions.
Heather Scott — A legislator asks about the budget breakdown and the handling of unallocated CEC for three FTPs.
Edward Hill — Representative Harris questions why three FTP positions appear to be removed from the budget presentation and then reappear in later budget pages, asking for clarification on whether they are being cut and whether compensation increases would still apply to them.
Major General Donnellan — The committee is invited to hear from Major General Donnellan.
Major General Tim Donnellan — Introduces himself as Adjutant General for Idaho and director of the Idaho Military Division, and names accompanying staff.
Chris Bruce — Asked for an update on the EMS program, including what was moved, how it is going, and the outlook.
Chris Bruce — Asked about the highest cost driver in expenditures.
Chris Bruce — Mr. Bruce was asked if he had another question and responded that he did not have a question, but instead wanted to make a brief comment thanking the administrator and staff for helping veterans get answers.
Chris Bruce — Representative Bruce asked for clarification on the administrative cost figures shown on the slide, questioning how many users were added from the 2023 actuals to the 2026 figures and whether the increase in the administrative line was driven by added users or some other reason. He reiterated that he was referring to the bottom-line administrative numbers, noting that they grow over the years and asking for an explanation of that growth and the decline shown in some figures.
Chris Bruce — The director responds to Representative Bruce's comment about live-streaming board meetings.
Wayne Denny — Credited, along with his team, for helping transform EMS from the Department of Health and Welfare to the military division.
Francis Lippitt — Francis Lippitt, a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, introduces herself and takes over the presentation. She then moves to the Division of Veterans Services budget, explaining that she will review the division’s appropriations history before Administrator Schampel provides an update and answers questions about the fiscal year 27 requests.
Ms. Lippitt — She concluded her remarks and offered to answer questions, noting Director Hampton was present.
Ms. Lippitt — Asked Representative Bruce to identify the slide he was referencing.
Ms. Lippitt — Sought clarification on whether Representative Bruce meant the special fund portfolio or the combined total.
Ms. Lippitt — Suggested the growth may reflect one-time expenses such as capital outlay and offered to provide follow-up information.
Ms. Lippitt — Was addressed by Representative Price in the question about PERSI participation.
Ms. Lippitt — Said she was not certain what 'other' referred to and suggested Director Hampton could answer.
Ms. Lippitt — Explained that the savings figure was the estimated cost savings provided at budget submission.
Ms. Lippitt — Explained that the savings likely came from items removed from the project scope.
Ms. Lippitt — Responded that the increase likely reflects higher licensing costs for the software.
Ms. Lippitt — Clarified that the increase was due to fees for the old Oracle-based version versus the updated version.
Director Hampton — Director Hampton is repeatedly referenced as being present, available to answer questions, and later asked to identify himself for the record and introduce board members, indicating he is the relevant witness for this portion of the discussion.
Britt Raybould — Asked who can participate in the PERSI program and whether nongovernmental organizations may participate.
Britt Raybould — Was the member asking about who participates in PERSI.
Britt Raybould — Asked what the category 'other' means on the slide.
Britt Raybould — Noted that her question was the same as Senator Carlson's.
Mark Harris — Representative Harris questioned a reported $577,000 unused variance in 2025 and asked for current average variance information to understand how spending compares with the amount appropriated.
Mike Hampton — Mike Hampton, director of PERSI, introduced himself and accompanying staff and trustees, then described PERSI as a well-funded organization serving members and beneficiaries. He went on to explain Idaho’s mandatory 1% PAA, clarifying that it is not technically a COLA, and answered questions about a 2022 catch-up adjustment, saying it would involve a 1% mandatory increase and a 1.7% retroactive adjustment. He concluded by noting that plan transitions can raise short-term costs and that the details matter.
Alex Simpson — Introduced as the Deputy Director accompanying Mike Hampton.
Mike Anderson — Introduced as the Chief Financial Officer accompanying Mike Hampton.
Darren Dianjali — Introduced as one of the trustees present.
Lori Wolf — Introduced as one of the trustees present.
James Petzke — Representative James Petzke asked why retirees receiving PERSI benefits have not received inflationary or cost-of-living adjustments in recent years despite the system's funding status, prompting a response that addressed his concern.