Christy Zito — Vice Chair Zito was identified as taking over the rules portion of the agenda.
Christy Zito — Vice Chair Zito was the presiding member being addressed.
Christy Zito — The speaker thanked Vice Chair Zito for her work on the rulemaking and committee work.
Todd Lakey — Asked whether the term 'service' includes service animals like guide dogs.
Todd Lakey — Moved to send RS 33086 to print.
Todd Lakey — Motion to print RS 33086 noted again.
Todd Lakey — Moved to send the RS to print.
Todd Lakey — Moved to send RS 32886 to print.
Todd Lakey — Motion to print RS 32886 was attributed to him.
Todd Lakey — Senator Lakey questioned the difference in compensation amounts, particularly the veterinary care reimbursement, and asked whether the statute gives the rule flexibility to set reimbursement amounts while remaining consistent with statutory language. This prompted an explanation that for injured livestock, the statute does not clearly define the amount, leaving room for interpretation.
Todd Lakey — Senator Lakey follows up on the discussion of brucellosis control by asking whether the federal government could implement a vaccination program in Yellowstone and whether there is any effort to develop a preventative vaccine. The responses reference his suggestion and continue the broader discussion of vaccine research and herd protection.
Todd Lakey — Senator Lakey expresses appreciation for the negotiated rulemaking process and asks whether the reporting change was part of that discussion and whether everyone agreed to it. He then follows up to clarify the change from a standing arrangement to one tied to expiration dates, and asks what happens if a trader or buying station misses the renewal deadline.
Ron Taylor — Ron Taylor is identified and then directly states 'Second' to second Senator Lakey's motion to print RS 32886, after which the chair summarizes that the motion was made by Senator Lakey and seconded by Senator Taylor.
Lloyd Knight — Lloyd Knight, Deputy Director of the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, first introduced docket 02071-2501 and explained that the department was seeking repeal of a chapter because the rule language duplicated the authorizing statute and was therefore unnecessary. He then moved into a related presentation covering both a temporary rule and a pending rule on depredation compensation. Knight explained that the temporary rule was needed to establish compensation before the full rulemaking process was complete, and that it was later updated to improve reimbursement procedures, clarify priorities for distributing funds, and change terminology from "validated" to "confirmed." He noted that the department held multiple stakeholder meetings, refined the compensation matrix, addressed injured livestock claims, and established prorated payments if the fund is insufficient. He also described field examinations being conducted by a state-authorized investigator and referenced conflict prevention funding and related protocols.
Julie VanOrden — Asked for a motion, then was told motions would be taken at the end.
Boyd Knight / Lloyd Knight — The transcript appears to misstate the witness name as 'Mr. Boyd Knight'; context indicates Lloyd Knight is still the speaker.
Mr. Knight — Was asked to explain the difference in compensation amounts.
Mr. Knight — Was addressed by Senator Lakey and then began responding.
Mr. Knight — Responded to Senator Nichols' question about federal influence.
Dr. Scott Livesley — Dr. Scott Livesley, administrator of the Division of Animal Industries at the Idaho State Department of Agriculture and state veterinarian, introduced himself and began presenting on the brucellosis rule. His remarks were briefly interrupted so a virtual testifier on a previous rule could speak, after which he resumed the same presentation.
Dr. Scott Livesley — Dr. Scott Livesley, Idaho State Department of Agriculture administrator of Animal Industries and state veterinarian, presents on bovine tuberculosis. He explains that TB is a bacterial disease, not a virus, describes its pathology and transmission, and notes that Idaho is TB-free while Michigan remains the only endemic state due to deer. He outlines surveillance and testing practices, including slaughter inspection, dairy testing, and the need for accredited veterinarians to perform certain tests, and references a 2023 surge in testing tied to a contact trace. He also discusses negotiated rulemaking and argues that federal TB rules are outdated and need updating to reflect modern, much larger dairy operations.
Megan Smith — Megan Smith was identified as the virtual witness and invited to testify. She introduced herself as the program director for the Idaho-based nonprofit Living with Wolves and stated support for the proposed rules governing grizzly bear and wolf depredation. She said she participated in the negotiated rulemaking process with diverse stakeholders and found it fair, productive, and collaborative. She concluded by reaffirming Living with Wolves’ support for the rules and offering to answer questions.
Carrie Semmelroth — Carrie Semmelroth asked whether the federal government tests in the designated surveillance areas and why it does not, then followed up by sharing a personal example of a herd loss and expressing gratitude for the current testing and care program. Later references to her question were used as the basis for follow-up discussion on related federal vaccination/testing efforts.
Dr. Livesley — Begins answering the question about whether a federal vaccination program could address brucellosis in Yellowstone.
Dr. Livesley — Is addressed by Senator Blaylock regarding the premises-entry language in the rule.
Dr. Livesley — Explains that the language is being relocated, not added, and says the department makes every effort to notify owners.
Dr. Livesley — Says the department avoids entering property without permission and works with owners whenever possible.
Dr. Livesley — Explains why developing a preventative vaccine is difficult and notes the select-agent history of Brucella.
Dr. Livesley — Jeff Abrams compliments Dr. Livesley's presentation.
Jeff Abrams — Jeff Abrams is called to the podium and then introduces himself as representing the Idaho Conservation League, noting that his comment was intended for the previous rulemaking.
Jeff Abrams — Jeff Abrams, a Wildlife Program Associate with the Idaho Conservation League, introduces himself and then speaks in support of recognizing the challenges producers face on working lands, tying his comments to depredation compensation and prior legislation that acknowledged those challenges.
Camille Blaylock — Camille Blaylock is first called on to move approval of the January 22, 2026 minutes, then is identified as seconding the motion. She then introduces herself as Senator from District 11 and presents RS measures from the interim Doge Committee, explaining one as a code cleanup effort and another related to the Idaho One plan, concluding by asking that the RS be sent to print. She is thanked afterward for her presentation.
Camille Blaylock — Senator Blaylock questions the addition of emergency-entry/emergency-notification language to the rule, asking why it is being included and why there should not still be a requirement to at least make an attempt at notification.
Tammy Nichols — Tammy Nichols is repeatedly addressed as Madam Chair during a short procedural segment in which a motion on the minutes is being made and handled.
Tammy Nichols — Asked how much federal influence affects the rule and depredation-related issues.
Tammy Nichols — Addressed as Madam Chair.
Tammy Nichols — Asked which states still have tuberculosis in cattle.
Tammy Nichols — The time was turned back over to Senator Nichols as the meeting wrapped up.
Christy Zito — Identified as the second on the motion.
Christy Zito — Called on to ask a question about rodeo animals.
Christy Zito — Addressed directly in the response.