James Woodward — A member is addressed in a joking or colloquial aside; the exact name is unclear from the transcript.
Tammy Nichols — Introduces RS 33325 and identifies his district and counties represented.
Cindy Carlson — Representative Ehart moves to introduce RS 33325 and asks for follow-up information on prior similar civics seal measures and how the Department of Education has implemented the program, requesting that the related materials be brought back.
Cindy Carlson — Representative Galavese is likely a transcription error; the expected member list does not include this name, so the exact identity is uncertain.
Doug Pickett — Introduces himself as representing District 27 and presents House Bill 608.
Christy Zito — Requested to join the presenter and lead off on the bill.
Christy Zito — Representative Ehart is addressed as a legislator asking for clarification on the criteria hierarchy.
Christy Zito — Representative Vizniewski is likely a mis-transcription of a member name; exact identity is uncertain from the provided member list.
Christy Zito — Was called on to speak; the chair asked whether her light was on.
Christy Zito — Was asked if her light was on and said she had more of a statement and could wait until questioning was done.
Christy Zito — Indicated she had a statement but would wait until questioning was finished.
Christy Zito — Spoke in support of the bill, focusing on relief for property owners.
Christy Zito — Was thanked after speaking in support of the bill; the transcript also contains a likely misrendered 'Representative Veehart.'
Christy Zito — Her closing comments on the previous bill are referenced as a segue for the next bill.
Christy Zito — Her closing comments on the previous bill are used as a segue for the opening remarks on House Bill 636.
Christy Zito — Thanked for putting the bill together.
Christy Zito — Thanked for putting HB 636 together.
Christy Zito — Asked to answer questions about the School District Facilities Fund.
Christy Zito — Answered that the 2024-2025 distribution was about $141 million and that distributions are based on ADA.
Christy Zito — Said the fund likely receives multiple distributions and offered to clarify further.
Christy Zito — Explained that the fund receives multiple distributions and is based on state revenue formula.
Rock Furnas — Introduces himself as District 31 and says the bill is a clarification.
Dave Lent — Representative Pickett is introduced to provide clarifications on the bill and then explains that certain parts of the bill were interpreted differently than originally intended, indicating the need to clarify the bill’s meaning and intent.
Dave Lent — Chair Dave Lent thanks the witness and asks whether there are any questions, then recognizes that a motion is in order and calls on Representative Vizniewski, followed by a reference to Representative Pickett in the same procedural exchange.
Kevin Lancaster — Kevin Lancaster, speaking by telephone as superintendent of Camas County, testifies in support of the proposed changes in House Bill 608. He explains Camas County School District's funding history, including its grant and bond efforts, and describes how repeated bond elections and the need to return to the ballot again in 2026 could further strain community trust. He urges the committee to support the bill changes.
Mark Gee — Mark Gee, superintendent of Middleton School District, is introduced as an in-person testifier and then states his support for House Bill 608, explaining that it would remove the requirement for a district to run another bond when the grant request is less than the amount of the last bonded amount.
Carrie Semmelroth — The prior context references Representative Semmelroth asking about the hierarchy of criteria for schools to receive funding.
Mark Gee, Superintendent of Middleton School District — Mark Gee, Superintendent of Middleton School District, described the district’s rapid growth and long-running effort to secure an elementary school through repeated bond attempts. He explained that Middleton currently has 26 elementary classrooms in portable units across three campuses, underscoring the overcrowding and facility strain. He also noted that requiring another bond under the current language has created communication challenges for the district and the public. Gee concluded by expressing gratitude that the district’s application to the public school facilities cooperative fund was approved, saying the grant, combined with other funding, creates a path to build the needed elementary school.
Mr. G. / Mark Gee — Concluded testimony in support of House Bill 608 and answered questions.
Janie Ward-Engelking — Was credited with having a major hand in the bill and working hard on it; the name is unclear in the transcript.
Janie Ward-Engelking — Was addressed regarding American Falls receiving a little over $800,000 in facility funds.
Janie Ward-Engelking — Called on after the motion; likely a mis-transcription of a member name.
Kevin Cook — Representative Nelson’s motion is clarified and corrected during the meeting. After confusion over whether he had moved House Bill 636 instead of House Bill 608, he attempts to amend the motion to House Bill 608, is advised to withdraw the original motion under Mason’s Rules, and then seeks unanimous consent to withdraw it and proceed with House Bill 608, expressing support for a due pass.
Derek Bubb — Derek Bubb, superintendent of West Ada School District, introduced himself and testified on behalf of the district in support of HB 636.
James Woodward — His light is checked and he is noted as done.
James Woodward — Referenced as having asked who pays for the cost of the administrator.
James Woodward — Representative Nelson is addressed about whether to wait for testimony before questions; no confident ID for Nelson in the expected list.
James Woodward — James Woodward, referred to as Mr. Nelson in the transcript, asked for a comment and motion, then explained that his district includes a mix of communities with differing ability to pay before moving the bill forward with a due pass recommendation.
James Woodward — Moved to send HB 636 to the floor with a due pass.
James Woodward — The chair is thanked and the committee waits for him before proceeding with the motion.
James Woodward — The gavel is returned to the chair after the vote.