Idaho 2026 Regular Session

Agenda Feb 12th, 2026

Key Moments

  • James Woodward — Responded present during roll call.
  • Kevin Cook — Responded present during roll call.
  • Kevin Cook — The director said he was in Senate Resources yesterday discussing what 2026 may look like.
  • Kevin Cook — Joked that he was trying to make sure the speaker did not get sick.
  • Kevin Cook — Was thanked for the prior explanation and referenced in the discussion of return on investment and quagga mussel impacts.
  • Phil Hart — Responded present during roll call.
  • Phil Hart — Senator Hart asked whether academia, national labs, or industry are pursuing a novel solution to the quagga mussel problem, and followed up by asking whether federal funding would be available to support research into a promising new idea in that area.
  • Cindy Carlson — Cindy Carlson was noted as present during roll call and listed as present for quorum.
  • Glenneda Zuiderveld — Glenneda Zuiderveld was recorded as present during roll call and listed for quorum.
  • Glenneda Zuiderveld — Senator Zuiderveld first asked for a breakdown of chemical costs from 2023 through 2025 and whether the rising costs were due to increased usage or higher prices. Later, the speaker addressed Senator Zuiderveld again in a separate exchange about sturgeon stocking and quagga control, responding that the issue was not research they had been able to find.
  • Codi Galloway — Codi Galloway was recorded as present during roll call and listed for quorum.
  • Janie Ward-Engelking — Listed as present for quorum.
  • Melissa Wintrow — Listed as present for quorum.
  • Steven Tanner — Listed as present for quorum.
  • Steve Miller — Listed as present for quorum.
  • James Petzke — Listed as present for quorum.
  • Dustin Manwaring — Listed as present for quorum.
  • Dustin Manwaring — Representative Manwaring is recognized in committee and asks a question about a pending policy bill involving bulk lottery tickets purchased by outside companies, including concerns about fiscal impacts to the state. The director then responds directly to his question.
  • Brandon Mitchell — Listed as present for quorum.
  • Elaine Price — Listed as present for quorum.
  • Elaine Price — Representative Elaine Price raised concerns about budget cuts, asking whether there were alternatives to cutting inspection stations. The director responded directly, discussing the trade-offs involved in the budget situation, including the idea of taking an across-the-board haircut in general funds. The later mentions continued to reference Price’s point as the basis for the discussion, reinforcing the same budget-cut theme.
  • Chris Bruce — Listed as present for quorum.
  • Chris Bruce — Was thanked by name in the closing remarks, likely as the member being addressed.
  • Mark Harris — Listed as present for quorum.
  • Mark Harris — Senator Harris asks whether there are limits on the number of tickets a person can buy and whether out-of-state people face any purchase limits.
  • Mark Harris — The director answers Senator Harris's question by saying there is a $5,000 limit, with no in-state or out-of-state distinction.
  • Mark Harris — Senator Harris thanks the director and asks about markup versus suggested MSRP and whether Idaho prices are discouraging distilleries from selling liquor in the state.
  • Mark Harris — The director responds to Senator Harris and asks the CFO to come forward.
  • Mark Harris — Senator Harris raises concerns about liquor pricing, markup, and whether Idaho's prices are too high for distilleries to participate.
  • Mark Harris — The director again addresses Harris and requests the CFO to answer the pricing question.
  • Mark Harris — Was addressed by the director in response to his question about pricing and shipping concerns.
  • Mark Harris — Referenced as another member who had asked about pricing and markup.
  • Mark Harris — The director responds to Representative Harris's earlier question about liquor pricing and market structure.
  • Mark Harris — The director says he is addressing a question from Representative Harris about premium bourbon pricing and distributor preferences.
  • Brooke Green — Listed as present for quorum.
  • Brooke Green — Addressed in a joking exchange about switching places.
  • Brooke Green — Asked how ongoing cuts will affect the state's ability to address quagga mussels in Idaho.
  • Brooke Green — Asked for a ballpark estimate of how 3% cuts would affect station hours and openings.
  • Morgan Poloni — Identified herself as a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office and began presenting on agriculture.
  • Morgan Poloni — Introduced herself as a budget analyst with the Legislative Services Office and began the Liquor Division presentation.
  • Ms. Belloni — Confirmed that the federal grant spending authority was not used and is being rolled over.
  • Ms. Pallone — Confirmed the prior answer and indicated there were no further questions.
  • Schnell Teewald — Identified himself as the director of the Idaho State Department of Agriculture.
  • Chanel Teewell — Identified himself as the director of the Idaho State Department of Agriculture and introduced Kelly Nielsen as the agency's fiscal officer.
  • John Shirts — Was thanked and then asked a question about the resilient food system grant for 6.1.
  • John Shirts — Asked why the resilient food system grant for 6.1 was not allocated last year.
  • John Shirts — Was addressed by the director during the explanation of delayed grant projects.
  • John Shirts — Was addressed in the vehicle fleet discussion and asked about fleet size and replacements.
  • John Shirts — Asked about the $67,000 sandwich/message boards line item and how many boards it buys.
  • John Shirts — Was addressed during the explanation of the cost and purpose of the message boards.