Cornel Rasor — The chair addressed Representative Rasor when asking for a motion to approve the minutes.
Cornel Rasor — Referenced in the exchange about whether there was a follow-up.
Allie Silvers — The committee welcomed page Allie Silvers, invited her to introduce herself, and she said she is from Twin Falls, is 17, and is homeschooled. She also noted that her great uncle is Representative Steve Miller, and the committee thanked her and welcomed her participation.
Richard Cheatum — Representative Cheatham asked Allie about a relative in the Capitol.
Richard Cheatum — Representative Cheatum moved to send House Bill 661 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
Richard Cheatum — Richard Cheatum explained that most city libraries are funded through a separate, very limited library levy that is levied apart from the normal city budget but becomes part of the overall city levy. He added that, in his city, once library board members are appointed they remain in place until they leave on their own, and that the library director position is not one of the few city roles requiring council confirmation or state-statute-based approval.
Richard Cheatum — Representative Birch is referenced as asking a follow-up question about qualifications for library directors; the transcript likely misidentifies the member name.
Lucas Cayler — Representative Cayler was invited to comment and responded by saying he did not feel bad about being homeschooled, noting that he was also homeschooled himself.
Lucas Cayler — Raised a devil's-advocate question about why the library board should not simply be abolished if its authority is being reduced.
Lucas Cayler — Representative Kaler first asks to comment on the bill and is asked to wait until questions are finished. The committee then tells him they will return to him shortly, and he subsequently resumes by thanking the chair, stating support for the motion as introduced, and beginning a broader comment on the issue.
Lucas Cayler — The chair praises Representative Birch for the presentation and then notes there are no further questions, closing that portion of the hearing.
Joe Alfieri — Allie said her great-uncle is Representative Steve Miller; the transcript appears to misstate the name, and no matching member is in the provided list.
Joe Alfieri — Joked about pronunciation of his name and asked how many cities are affected by the bill.
Jeff Cornilles — The chair called on Representative Cornilles to present House Bill 661.
Jeff Cornilles — Representative Cornilles introduced himself and identified himself as being from District 12 in Nampa.
Jeff Cornilles — The chair and speaker corrected the representative's name pronunciation.
Jeff Cornilles — The chair referred to Representative Cornilles after the motion.
Jeff Cornilles — The chair noted there were no questions and no testifiers for Representative Cornilles' bill.
Jeff Cornilles — The chair addressed Representative Cornilles after the vote.
Jeff Cornilles — Representative Cornilles introduced House Bill 715 and identified himself again as being from Nampa District 12.
Jeff Cornilles — Responded that the proposal does not change anything and explained that some council members see the board of trustees as the body making recommendations.
Jeff Cornilles — Explained that the board of trustees would recommend a director to city council for approval, similar to other city entities.
Jeff Cornilles — Asked for clarification on the term 'taxing district' and said he could not speak for every city.
Jeff Cornilles — Said he does not know how every city handles it, but believes elected officials should have the authority.
Jeff Cornilles — Was thanked directly by Representative Hostetler.
Jeff Cornilles — Answered that city-owned libraries are treated as such and indicated 'yes' to the taxing-district question, though the transcript is unclear.
Jeff Cornilles — Responded that the board should remain and provide recommendations, similar to other city departments.
Jeff Cornilles — Asked for pronunciation clarification and apologized for mispronouncing names, including Representative Vizniewski.
Jeff Cornilles — Said the bill originated from one city but addresses a problem he does not want to spread statewide.
Jeff Cornilles — Answered that the bill affects 55 of 163 cities.
Jeff Cornilles — Responded that the discussion is about cities, not a taxing district.
Jeff Cornilles — The chair refers to the vice chairman and says she will work on phonetically pronouncing his name.
Monica Church — Representative Monica Church questioned the bill’s impact and whether it unfairly responds to a single issue, citing emails from librarians who oppose it. She then asked whether librarians had actually been consulted and whether the support she was seeing was broader than her own inbox. Church followed up by asking how other taxing districts handle director selection, specifically whether similar districts use the same structure or instead have directors determined by city council or county elected officials.
Clint Hostetler — Representative Clint Hostetler spoke in support of House Bill 715, arguing that employees paid by the city should be accountable to the city that pays their salary. He then formally moved to send House Bill 715 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
Clint Hostetler — The chair praises Representative Handy for a very well-done presentation.
Elaine Price — Representative Elaine Price asked whether city libraries are taxing districts, noting that her city library is not one and seeking clarification on whether city libraries are normally considered taxing districts. Her earlier question was later referenced in the discussion.
Elaine Price — Representative Price initiates a question about whether the bill does more than require City Council approval of the library director recommendation, and the response confirms that understanding. The discussion then continues with a follow-up about whether similar city council approval processes exist in many Idaho cities, before the chair notes the conversation may have strayed from Price’s original question and asks Price to repeat it for clarification.
Steve Berch — Steve Berch questioned whether the bill was responding to a broader legislative issue or just a specific library board concern, then acknowledged the chair's response and indicated he had no further follow-up.
Steve Berch — Representative Birch asks whether the bill dilutes or diminishes the library board's power.
Heather Stout — Heather Stout was called to testify virtually, introduced herself, and spoke about Idaho City library board governance. She explained how trustees are currently appointed and described how HB 715 would change library director hiring and firing authority. She concluded by noting her library experience, opposing the bill, and offering to answer questions.
Vicki Fadness — Vicki Fadness is brought on virtually to testify and is given two minutes. She says the Lewiston library has worked well for over 100 years and questions the need for the bill. She later responds that library directors are expected to have degrees and professional involvement, noting that their librarian does have the required degree.
Ms. Fadness — The chair asks Ms. Fadness to explain professional requirements for library directors.
Robert Wright — The chair notes that Robert Wright is present in person and opposed to the bill; he is associated with the Works of the Auto Falls Library.
Mr. Wright — The chair notes that Mr. Wright is from Idaho Falls and references prior communication with him. The discussion then continues that he had been listed as attending in person, though staff may have intended for him to appear virtually, and they attempted to bring him on.
Mr. Cornelius — The chair asks Mr. Cornelius to come back up while the technical issue is worked out.