Britt Raybould — Britt Raybould was called during the roll call, though the transcript rendered the name as "Price."
Brandon Mitchell — Called during roll call.
Brandon Mitchell — Representative Mitchell raised repeated concerns about Fish and Game communications and how constituent feedback and survey results are being used. He questioned whether accurate information was reaching constituents, noted issues with survey interpretation, and emphasized that survey findings—particularly regarding range finders in scopes—should be reflected in rulemaking and policy decisions.
Brandon Mitchell — Referenced in connection with a prior question about surveys and the HAT committee.
Chris Bruce — Called during roll call.
Chris Bruce — Asked about swings in the administration-level operating budget and requested explanation for the changes.
Mark Harris — Called during roll call.
Steven Tanner — Called as Chairman Tanner during the roll call.
Dustin Manwaring — Dustin Manwaring was called during the roll call.
Glenneda Zuiderveld — Likely called during roll call; transcribed as Zider Belt.
Codi Galloway — Called during roll call.
Janie Ward-Engelking — Likely called during roll call; transcribed as Ward Engel King.
Janie Ward-Engelking — Asked why Fish and Game appears in the rescission bill if the budget has no general funds.
Melissa Wintrow — Called during roll call.
Melissa Wintrow — Senator Wintrow engages in a sustained budget discussion, first raising questions about the budget and noting the analyst may be able to help, then following up on the budget-book issue. She is addressed by others during the exchange and continues pressing on whether the office can absorb budget tightening, expressing concern about cuts and consistency with other budgets, while the chair thanks her at the end of the discussion.
Ms. Jessup — Asked to come forward and state her name for the record.
Janet Jessup — Introduced herself as a budget and policy analyst with Legislative Services and began the Department of Fish and Game presentation.
Elaine Price — Representative Price participated in a brief budget-related exchange, first asking for clarification that the rescission concerned appropriation authority rather than removing money from the fund, then following up on a discrepancy between the budget book and the slide regarding temporary employee restoration and seeking confirmation of the correct amount.
Elaine Price — Representative Price’s earlier question about a PDF error in the budget materials is addressed, with clarification that the number shown in the legislative budget book and on the screen is accurate.
Kyle Harris — Asked why fisheries inflationary costs and fisheries facility inflation were separated instead of combined.
David Leavitt — Invited to come forward and explain the distinctions in the fisheries funding items.
Jim Fredericks — Identified himself as the director of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and introduced staff.
Jim Fredericks — Jim Fredericks, Director of Idaho Fish and Game, explained that wolf management cannot currently be fully decoupled from grizzly bear impacts because grizzlies remain listed and there is potential for unauthorized take. He said possible paths to decoupling would be delisting grizzly bears or obtaining ESA take authorization for grizzly bears associated with wolf trapping. He added that there is essentially no demonstrated lethal take of grizzly bears from legal wolf trapping, framing the issue as primarily legal rather than biological.
Amber Worthington — Introduced as Deputy Director of Policy and Programs.
Ellery Tucker Williams — Introduced as legislative and community engagement coordinator.
John Oswald — Introduced as chief of the Administration Bureau.
James Petzke — Named as a member of the ad hoc committee recommending the shift to a draw system.
James Petzke — Representative Pesky asked for an update on revenue from the new non-resident tag system and the second drawing, and the director responded with information about the first draw and sales results.
James Petzke — Representative Petzke asks about the $242 million recovered by the office, whether it came from cases won in the last three years or from older settlements, and requests a list of the cases that generated the revenue so the committee can see what is being counted.
Brent Crane — Representative Bruce follows up on questions about the wildlife budget, asking how much is devoted to predator management versus predator monitoring or conservation. The director and chair clarify the question, including whether it refers to bears, mountain lions, and wolves, as part of the same budget discussion.
John Oswald, Administration Bureau Chief for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game — Identifies himself as the Administration Bureau Chief for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and begins responding to the budget question.
Jerald Raymond — No, this section does not mention Representative Harris.
Edward Hill — Representative Harris raised questions about how habitat project funding and spending authority overlap between the Department of Fish and Game and the Office of Species Conservation. The director responded to that question, and later references continued to tie the discussion back to Harris’s point about the close relationship between the two agencies and their related habitat work.
Edward Hill — Asks how many Idaho species are covered under ESA or protected.
Heather Scott — Referenced earlier in the presentation regarding a corrected number in the PDF; not speaking in this excerpt.
Mike Edmondson — Mike Edmondson, administrator of the Governor's Office of Species Conservation, explains his office’s role and staffing, then answers committee questions about the number of species and the metrics the office tracks. He clarifies the division of responsibilities between his office and Fish and Game, describing his office as a technical policy and legal advisor, and gives examples of measurable work on sage grouse, salmon and steelhead, and grizzly bears. He notes that many metrics are available on the office website and discusses the strong synergy between his office and related agencies, including DEQ, the Department of Lands, and the Department of Water Resources. He says the DOGE Committee directed the offices to develop a merger plan and identify efficiencies, mentions growing emphasis on nuclear, geothermal, and Fast 41 projects, and warns against recommending all four reductions. He also addresses delisting and regulatory-burden issues, says all outcomes are possible, and notes work with the Trump administration on a broader solution. Finally, he touches on the complexity of wolf and grizzly issues, says the office works closely with tribes, and explains that while he cannot speak specifically to wolf or grizzly interactions, the office has substantial tribal interaction on salmon and steelhead and recognizes tribal sovereignty.
Amy Lackovich — Identified as the fiscal officer for the Office of Species Conservation.
Mr. Edmondson — Was asked to respond regarding grizzly bear listing outcomes.
Mr. Fredericks — Was deferred to for further explanation.
Carl Bjerke — Senator Beerke questioned whether the Office of Species Conservation could achieve efficiency gains by being merged or coupled with the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources and the Department of Fish and Game, asking how the administration would address those potential efficiencies.
David Cannon — Attorney General Raul Labrador presented his office’s budget request and argued against the proposed reductions, emphasizing that the office has delivered strong returns to taxpayers and has not sought above-maintenance funding. He explained that the FY27 cut would significantly harm a largely personnel-based office, forcing furloughs, salary reductions, or elimination of positions, and asked for $980,000 of the reduction to be restored. He cited the office’s $242 million recovered or settled over three years as evidence of value, then began describing operational challenges such as the ICAC backlog he inherited and the reforms made after taking office.
Jeff and I — Jeff and I introduces himself as the chief of the criminal law division in the Idaho Attorney General's Office, identifying his role as the witness speaking to the committee.
Jim Guthrie — Senator Hart discusses Idaho’s rising prison population and asks whether the Attorney General’s office can work with the Legislature on a framework for transferring prisoners, including possible transfers related to immigration custody or other countries, as a way to reduce corrections costs. The response indicates the office is willing to look into the idea.
Mark Harris — Named as a member of the ad hoc committee recommending the shift to a draw system.
Mark Harris — Representative Harris asks about the fisheries habitat projects request and whether it overlaps with the Office of Species Conservation's responsibilities and the species conservation budget.
Mark Harris — Representative/Senator Harris thanked Attorney General Raul Labrador for his office’s work and assistance, then began asking about ICAC trends, prompting follow-up discussion on that topic.
Brooke Green — Called during roll call.
James Woodward — Called during roll call.
James Woodward — Senator Woodward asks about the burden of chronic wasting disease on the department.
James Woodward — Senator Woodward asks about chronic wasting disease resources and time.