Carrie Semmelroth — Senator Semmelroth moves to approve the minutes of January 29, 2026.
Tammy Nichols — Senator Nichols moves to approve the minutes from February 2, 2026.
Tammy Nichols — Senator Tammy Nichols first acknowledged the chair, then asked how the program is being promoted and what outreach methods are being used, including whether efforts rely on social media or schools. She then suggested that kids fairs around the state could be a low-cost opportunity to share information about the program.
Don Hall — Don Hall, Executive Director of Idaho’s 529 college savings program, introduces the Ideal Idaho College Savings Program and explains its background, noting it was created by the Idaho Legislature in 2000 and is part of the broader 529 education savings framework. He describes how accounts can be opened and managed through the website or app, explains that Idaho residents who contribute may claim the tax deduction, and outlines the broad qualified uses of funds, including books, required supplies, computers, software, internet, and expenses for two- and four-year colleges, graduate school, trade schools, career and technical programs, and apprenticeships.
Julie Oberley — Hall introduces Julie Oberley as a board representative.
Dave Lent — The meeting includes repeated procedural references to the chair as 'Mr. Chairman,' followed later by a direct greeting to Chairman Lent and the committee. Overall, the segment is a continuous chair-address moment with no substantive topic change.
Kevin Cook — Senator Cook is later identified as making a motion in the minutes approval process.
Kevin Cook — Senator Cook moves to accept the minutes for January 28, 2026.
Kevin Cook — Senator Cook is asked to take up RS 33-246 and makes the motion regarding the pending and temporary rules.
Janie Ward-Engelking — Senator Janie Ward-Engelking thanked the presenter and praised the program, then shared that she has used it to help her grandkids with college. She asked whether families receiving the child tax credit funds could also place that money into a 529/IDEAL account and still receive a state tax deduction, and requested that the answer be provided back to the committee secretary for distribution.
Ms. Hall — The presenter said the tax credit and Ideal deduction are separate and suggested double-checking whether the tax credit could be deposited into an Ideal account.