Kevin Cook — Senator Kevin Cook is introduced and welcomed to committee, then presents RS 23983 for a print hearing, explaining that it is a dietician licensure compact that does not set Idaho law or standards and inviting questions. The discussion concludes with brief remarks addressing and thanking him.
Kevin Cook — Yielded the remainder of his opening to Jeff Niemeyer for technical questions.
Kevin Cook — Gives closing remarks and asks for favorable consideration of the bill.
Kevin Cook — Makes the motion to send Senate Bill 1262 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
Kevin Cook — Motion carried after his motion to advance the bill.
Todd Lakey — Senator Lakey is recognized to ask a question.
Todd Lakey — Senator Lakey expresses concern about compacts affecting sovereignty and says he is happy to print the bill.
Todd Lakey — Senator Lakey is identified as seconding the motion.
Todd Lakey — Introduced Senate Bill 1261.
Todd Lakey — Explained that the bill applies to sheriffs and other local elected officials and amends the retired re-employment section for PERSI members.
Todd Lakey — Explained that retired PERSI members elected to public office after six months would keep existing retirement benefits but not accrue additional ones.
Todd Lakey — Explained that the bill does not apply when a person runs again for the same office and described vacancy-filling scenarios.
Todd Lakey — Described the vacancy-filling process and said appointed officials should be treated the same as elected officials for PERSI retirement benefits.
Todd Lakey — Asked for approval of Senate Bill 1261 and offered to answer questions.
Todd Lakey — The committee continued questioning him after his testimony.
Todd Lakey — Continued clarifying the bill's purpose and said he is looking at retiring midterm this session.
Todd Lakey — Explained that he does not want to exclude the best candidate from consideration and said the bill would apply to other offices as well.
Todd Lakey — Closed testimony and said he had nothing to add.
Treg Bernt — Senator Treg Bernt is called on for a motion, then identified as making the motion and later as seconding it, capturing the full sequence of the parliamentary action.
Tammy Nichols — Senator Tammy Nichols is involved in the committee’s procedural action on Senate Bill 1265, including a motion to send it to the floor with a due pass recommendation, and then is introduced as the next presenter. She then presents RS 33153, explaining that it protects veterans seeking claims assistance.
Camille Blaylock — Senator Blaylock is welcomed to committee.
Camille Blaylock — Senator Blaylock introduces Senate Bill 1265 and explains it is a code cleanup bill.
Camille Blaylock — The next item is introduced after SB 1265 is disposed of.
Ben Taves — Senator Ben Taves introduces RS 33125 and explains it would recognize homeschool diplomas for licensing purposes.
Brian Lenney — Senator Lenney is identified as making the motion.
Melissa Wintrow — Senator Nichols explained that the bill addresses the rise of paid, non-accredited claims assistance targeting veterans and the lack of Idaho-specific guardrails, then asked the committee to print RS 33153 so it could receive a hearing.
Joe Palmer — Senator Burt moved to introduce RS 33153, and the motion was then referenced as having been made and seconded by Senator Guthrie.
Joe Palmer — Senator Burt was identified as seconding the motion.
Jim Guthrie — Identified as seconding the motion to send RS 33153 to print.
Jim Guthrie — Introduced the next minutes approval item after the February 3rd minutes were approved.
Jim Guthrie — Recommended approval of the February 5th, 2026 minutes.
Jim Guthrie — Asked whether the bill was similar to prior legislation involving police chiefs.
Jim Guthrie — Identified as the next presenter for Senate Bill 1262.
Jim Guthrie — Introduced Senate Bill 1262 and described it as a simple bill giving insurance companies additional flexibility in making investments.
Sheriff Getz — Appeared to testify in support of the bill.
Chris Getz, Colorado County Sheriff — Chris Getz, Colorado County Sheriff, testified in support of Senate Bill 1261, thanking the committee for taking up the bill and noting support from several associations, with no objection from PERSI.
Janie Ward-Engelking — Senator Ward Engelking was recognized to make a motion and then moved to send Senate Bill 1261 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
James Ruchti — Identified as seconding the motion.
Jeff Niemeyer — Identified as the person who would answer technical questions about the bill.
Jeff Newmire — Introduced himself as chief administrative officer and general counsel for United Heritage Life Insurance Company.