Christy Zito — Mr. Hawkins is thanked and the sponsor is asked to return later.
Christy Zito — The chairman is referenced as having wanted to expand the bill to K-12 and taking responsibility for the drafting issue.
Christy Zito — The chairman is referenced as having worked on the bill last year and as part of the drafting process.
Christy Zito — The witness responds to Representative Ehart's question about the bill's wording and argues it removes the ability to teach age-appropriate material.
Debbie Critchfield, State Superintendent — Debbie Critchfield, State Superintendent, responds to questions about the bill and explains the competitive grant rubric, including how initiatives must align with reading, math, or college and career readiness, how they are evaluated for implementation and sustainability, and how prior-cycle funding limits are used to broaden access. The exchange concludes with thanks for clarifying the proposal and rubric.
Cindy Carlson — Representative Pickett discusses the bill, saying he supports addressing the issue but wants more specific and less discretionary criteria. He then states he will vote no and makes a substitute motion to hold the bill in committee, clarifying that he is indeed making a substitute motion. A later comment in the discussion notes that Representative Pickett raised a very good point about clarifying the bill.
Kevin Cook — The chair turns the meeting over to the Vice Chair.
Doug Taylor — Introduced himself as a lobbyist with the Target Group and said he worked with the chairman on the legislation last year.
Carrie Semmelroth — Representative Ehart is referenced as having raised concerns in last year's debate.
Mr. Taylor — Indicated he was available for questions after explaining the bill was a cleanup of the code.
Ms. Deli Carpinny Tolman — The chair announced the next virtual testifier, whose name was read with some transcription uncertainty.
Misty Deli Carpinny Tolman — Testified in opposition to House Bill 516 on behalf of Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates.
Ms. Tolman — A member questions Ms. Tolman about whether the bill is merely clarifying existing law. Ms. Tolman responds that the bill’s wording, particularly the phrase "or age-appropriate," would remove the ability to teach age-appropriate material. The exchange then concludes with a closing thank-you.
Grace Howitt — Grace Howitt was introduced as the next in-person witness, then identified herself as a policy analyst at the Idaho Family Policy Center and testified in support of House Bill 516.
Christy Zito — Said some schools ignored the law and argued the subjects are the business of parents, not educators.
Christy Zito — Chairman Hawkins is referenced as the sponsor/leader of the bill discussion.
Christy Zito — The speaker reiterates that the issue belongs to parents and references Chairman Hawkins.
Christy Zito — The speaker says the bill may conflict with the parental rights law and references support for the 2023 version.
Christy Zito — The speaker says parents are allies and references the chairman's agreement.
Christy Zito — The speaker discusses the opt-in process and says the strike-through contradicts what parents wanted.
Christy Zito — The speaker is thanked for comments; Representative Galavis is addressed in response.
Christy Zito — The speaker responds to concerns about 'straight people' and says biology classes are not affected.
Christy Zito — The bill sponsor is referenced as the person who may answer the question.
Christy Zito — Representative Gallivies is referenced as raising the CTE issue.
Christy Zito — The chair is addressed in the exchange.
Christy Zito — Representative Calabese addresses the chair; likely a mis-transcription of a member name, but the chair is clearly being questioned.
Christy Zito — The chair/sponsor is asked whether school districts were consulted and whether the strike-through could confuse CTE courses and parent-permissioned instruction.
Christy Zito — Explained that the questioned language has caused confusion among people in education, though not specifically in CTE.
Christy Zito — Representative Levitt is called on, asked to identify himself for the record and speak into the microphone, then introduces himself as Representative Levitt from District 25 representing the City of Twin Falls and begins explaining the bill. The chair then asks whether there are any questions for the presenter.
Christy Zito — Responded that the bill does not change the subject and invited questions.