Melissa Wintrow — Senator Wintrow asked for more detail about the CASA program’s underfunding, fundraising difficulties, and volunteer shortages, and the witness continued addressing her during the same testimony segment.
Melissa Wintrow — Praised the presentation and asked about information the director shared regarding mandatory minimums.
Melissa Wintrow — Asked about mandatory minimums, drug-related charges, and whether those factors are affecting prison population and returns.
Melissa Wintrow — Addressed by Mr. Peterson in response to the question about sentencing trends.
Melissa Wintrow — The question about sentencing trends and mandatory minimums continued in response to her earlier inquiry.
Melissa Wintrow — She asked whether the proposed fee increase would raise the actual vehicle registration fee.
Melissa Wintrow — Mr. Peterson answered her question directly, confirming the fee increase would affect vehicle registrations.
Melissa Wintrow — Argued the state should pay police through the general fund rather than increasing vehicle registration fees, and said compensation issues are driving turnover.
Melissa Wintrow — Acknowledged Senator Groh and began a question/comment.
Melissa Wintrow — Questioned whether revenue should be restored to stabilize structural balance.
Melissa Wintrow — Argued for restoring some revenue to maintain structural balance and warned about falling back to 2008 budget levels.
Melissa Wintrow — Asked what specific problem the legislation is solving.
Melissa Wintrow — Raised a follow-up concern about the affirmative defenses in the proposal.
Melissa Wintrow — Raised concern that the proposal could be used improperly under a different administration.
Melissa Wintrow — Said she had voted against House Bill 83 previously, but would vote in favor of the motion so the bill could receive a hearing.
Melissa Wintrow — Confirmed she would vote in favor because everyone deserves a hearing.
Melissa Wintrow — Asked whether someone already living near a location would have to move if a daycare later opened nearby.
Melissa Wintrow — Was the senator asking about whether residents would have to move.
Melissa Wintrow — Sought clarification that existing residents would not have to move if a daycare opened later in the neighborhood.
— Noted as being present.
C. Grow — Scott Grow was welcomed to the committee as JFAC co-chair, and then he introduced himself as District 14, thanking the chair and noting his pleasure to be with the committee as he began the presentation.
Todd Lakey — Senator/Chairman Lakey is directly addressed during a continuous exchange in which the analyst concludes remarks and the witness responds and continues testimony in reply to Lakey and Senator Wintrow.
Todd Lakey — Senator Lakey was introduced and presented RS 33169, identifying himself as Senator Todd Lakey from District 23. He explained that the legislation was developed with the Attorney General’s Office to strengthen compliance with federal immigration law, apply only to adults 18 and over, and better position the state in relation to preemption issues by aligning the bill with federal tools and legal authority.
Mr. Charette — Responded to Senator Wintrow's question about the CASA program.
Ms. Bisharat — Thanked for the presentation and asked to state her name for the record.
Noah Peterson — Introduced himself as a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office and began a budget presentation on the Department of Correction and Idaho State Police.
Phil Hart — The speaker concluded prepared remarks for the Department of Correction and then invited the chairman to ask any questions.
Doug Ricks — Asked whether the 11.5 FTEs shown on the slides were being reduced or put back in.
Daniel Foreman — Senator Foreman moves to send Senate Bill 1239 to the floor of the Senate with a due pass recommendation, and the motion is seconded by Senator Kaiser.
— Senator Shippey first moved to approve the January 19, 2026 minutes, then moved to send Michael Kennedy’s gubernatorial reappointment to the floor with a recommendation for confirmation. The later reference notes that this was a motion from Senator Shippey.
— Seconded the motion to approve the minutes.
Melissa Wintrow — Seconded the motion on Michael Kennedy's appointment.
Daniel Foreman — Noted as being delayed because he is presenting a bill in another committee.
Daniel Foreman — Senator Foreman made a motion to send RS 33169 to print, which the chair then identified as a motion from him. Shortly afterward, the chair called on Senator Foreman again, and he made a second motion to send RS 33172 to print.
Doug Ricks — Asked for clarification on whether the 11.5 FTEs would be restored.
Doug Ricks — Asked whether the reduced positions are being removed from the budget and whether unfilled FTEs are normally funded.
Doug Ricks — Asked whether funding for unfilled positions is held or given to the department.
Doug Ricks — Asked about inmate labor revenue and factors behind the decline.
Doug Ricks — Asked about factors contributing to the drop in inmate labor revenue.
Doug Ricks — Asked about programs or personnel IDOC uses to find more contracts and increase receipts.
Doug Ricks — Was addressed as the questioner on the crime trends and population issue.
Doug Ricks — Received an explanation that sentencing to IDOC is increasing while exits remain steady.
Brian Lenney — Senator Lenney asked whether there was a slide or line item showing how much the state is paying to house illegal aliens, and followed up by referencing a possible annual cost of about $9 million.
Keith Bivey — Introduced himself as Division Manager for Budget Policy Analysis and noted that most senators had already seen the presentation.
Joe Palmer — Mr. Bivey jokingly noted that Senator Ricks would hear the presentation again later that afternoon, repeating the same lighthearted reference in the discussion.
Dave Lent — Senator Lent participated in a budget discussion by asking for inflation-rate context to compare against budget growth, and then briefly responded in the same exchange after the inflation explanation was provided.
Dave Lent — Senator Groh’s presentation concluded with appreciative remarks and brief acknowledgment from other members, including thanks for his general comments and recognition of the presentation’s relevance to the committee’s budget work.
Mr. Bybee — Referenced as having described the governor's budget and the lower revenue number.
Doug Okuniewicz — Senator Lakey is acknowledged as the sponsor/chair, then presents RS 33172, explaining that it comes from juvenile probation officers and would clarify their authority to handle juvenile probationers similarly to adult misdemeanor probation officers. He says the proposal would allow juvenile probation officers to arrest juveniles on court-issued warrants and transport them to court or detention facilities, emphasizing that the bill clarifies existing statutory authority and improves efficiency by reducing the need for additional law enforcement involvement. After the RS is sent to print, Lakey resumes chairing and introduces the next item, Senate Bill 1239.
Tammy Nichols — Senator Tammy Nichols presented Senate Bill 1239 as a technical clarification to Idaho Code 18-8329. She explained that constituents raised concerns about sex offenders living near locally approved but unlicensed daycare facilities, and that the bill would extend the existing 500-foot residency restriction from licensed daycares to locally approved daycares. She clarified that the measure is prospective only, does not change enforcement roles, and would not require existing residents to move if a daycare later opened nearby. She concluded by asking the committee to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation.