Kristen Matthews — Identified as the bureau chief from the welfare division who could answer more precise questions about the docket and the following two dockets.
Josh Wheeler — Asked a brief question after the presentation.
Doug Okuniewicz — Doug Okuniewicz briefly addressed the Vice Chair and then confirmed the committee’s procedural order by asking whether questions were in order.
Mr. Larson — Was asked a question about the rule and its purpose.
Mr. Larson — Explained that the rule contains the pieces of the program necessary in rule to administer the program and that are not already stated in state or federal law.
Mr. Larson — Said the rule contains only the pieces necessary to administer the program and that are not already in state or federal law.
Mr. Larson — Was asked about possible vaccination or immunization requirements tied to TANF benefits.
Mr. Larson — Said he was unsure whether TANF recipients or household members are required to be vaccinated or immunized and noted he would follow up.
Mr. Larson — Said the answer may depend on federal regulation and asked for time to look into it.
Mr. Larson — Reported that the program is funded entirely with federal funds and expends $22.6 million.
Josh Tanner — Asked whether TANF policies include any vaccination or immunization requirement for recipients or household members.
Lori McCann — Moved to approve the docket.
— Asked for a dollar figure on how much the program is spending.
Sasha O'Connell — Sasha O'Connell is introduced as the Deputy Director overseeing Medicaid and is identified as the person who will be brought in to answer questions and discuss more technical Medicaid-related issues.
Eric Brown — Named as a bureau chief in the Medicaid division who can answer technical questions.
Jason Monks — The committee discusses a series of related Medicaid rule dockets. Jared Larson explains that the pending rule and temporary rule are the same docket presented in different forms, and that the temporary rule was used because the legislature had removed the rules while consolidating them into a single chapter under House Bill 345. He answers questions about what would happen if the permanent rule were rejected, noting that the department would need to propose another temporary rule for Medicaid to continue operating. He also explains the broader tension between legislative direction in Idaho Code and the committee’s preference to place more of these rules into statute. The chair then invites comments or motions, and Larson introduces the final docket, a chapter repeal for Consumer Directed Services, explaining that it was omitted from House Bill 345 and is substantively consolidated with the prior actions taken by the committee.
Dustin Manwaring — Representative Furman moves to extend temporary docket 16-326-2501 to July 1, 2026, then continues discussing the temporary rule process, questioning whether rules can simply be made temporary and reinserted, and noting that the department may wait until legislators leave town to develop temporary rules. He argues that putting rules into statute can limit the department’s flexibility.
Megan Egbert — Representative Egbert asks a question about the bill's language.
David Leavitt — Representative Furman is called on next and makes a light remark.
Jared Larson — Jared Larson identifies himself as chief of staff at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and begins explaining the rule docket.
Jared Larson — Identified himself as Chief of Staff at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and moved to the next docket after the vote.
Jared Larson — Explained that the chapter repeal follows the committee's adoption of the consolidated welfare rules and that it repeals the independent TANF chapter.
Jared Larson — Introduced the LIHEAP chapter repeal and explained it is consolidated into the chapter adopted earlier in the agenda.
Jared Larson — Asked the committee to adopt the LIHEAP docket and answered questions about the program.
Jared Larson — Introduced the Medicaid-related items and identified Sasha O'Connell as Deputy Director overseeing Medicaid.
Ben Adams — Director Adams is referenced as part of prior rule consolidation efforts; likely a reference to Senator Ben Adams or another Adams, but the exact identity is uncertain.
Jordan Redman — Representative Jordan Redman was called on for a motion and then moved to approve docket 16-4-14-2501, the LIHEAP docket.
Jordan Redman — Representative Redmond makes procedural motions to approve docket items, first moving to approve docket 16-326-2501 pending rule and then moving to approve docket 16-0313-2501, the Consumer Directed Services chapter repeal docket.
Rob Beiswenger — Representative Rob Beiswenger introduces himself as being from Horseshoe Bend and representing District 8. In the same broader exchange, he is addressed by the chair and responds that he is willing to sit down and work through the concerns. The discussion then turns to feedback that the statement of purpose may be misleading and should be revised, keeping the focus on the same legislative issue and his response to it.
Jordan Redman — The chair appears to call on Representative Redman, likely mis-transcribed as 'Vice Winger'.
Jordan Redman — Representative Redman is called on and makes a motion to introduce the bill.