Doug Okuniewicz — Doug Okuniewicz is repeatedly addressed as Chairman/Mr. Chair during the committee exchange, and he also asks a follow-up question seeking clarification on whether the 70% statistic refers to vehicle crashes or pedestrian fatalities.
Doug Okuniewicz — Asked the nominee to explain the duties and roles of the Aeronautics Advisory Board.
Doug Okuniewicz — Explained the committee process for taking up the nomination at a later meeting and thanked the nominee.
Doug Okuniewicz — Introduced the new page presentation and invited Olivia Earle to speak.
Doug Okuniewicz — Reminded the page to introduce herself for the record.
Phil Hart — Addressed as Chairman/Chair in the hearing.
Phil Hart — Senator Phil Hart is referenced first as the member who seconded a motion, and shortly afterward he is part of a brief hearing exchange in which a senator is called on and thanks the chairman and witness while asking about future aviation opportunities in Idaho and how the state can capitalize on them.
Carrie Semmelroth — Senator Carrie Semmelroth participates in a continuous discussion raising concerns about the bill’s quality control, including whether parents with poor driving records could teach their children. The exchange continues with follow-up references to her prior question and to similar legislation from the previous year, keeping the focus on parent instructors and driving-record standards.
Carrie Semmelroth — Carrie Semmelroth opposes the motion and supports keeping the additional six hours of instruction with a professional instructor, citing traffic safety concerns and local driving challenges.
Alison Rabe — Asked whether the 70% statistic related to vehicle crashes or pedestrian fatalities.
Alison Rabe — Alison Rabe compared life in New York with Idaho, noting the contrast between the pace and efficiency of New York and the compassion she experienced after coming to Idaho. She continued by praising Idaho’s people as kind and compassionate and highlighting the state’s strong sense of community and outdoor access.
Lisa Brady — Lisa Brady was introduced as the first in-person testifier and then began her testimony by identifying herself as a Boise resident. She stated that she represents Safe Routes to School and described her work as a bicycle and pedestrian advocate as well as a driving advocate.
Lori Solders — Lori Solders is introduced as the next virtual testifier, and the chair then tries to connect with her by asking whether she can hear the hearing.
Lori Salders — Lori Salders testified in opposition to House Bill 628 on behalf of the Idaho Coalition for Motorcycle Safety, and the chair then thanked her for her testimony.
Tonya Housevite / House Fight (uncertain) — The next virtual witness is introduced, but the name is unclear in the transcript.
Tanya Hossite — Testified on behalf of Phillips Driving School and opposed House Bill 628.
Ms. Housefight — The chair thanks the witness after testimony; name appears to refer back to Tanya Hossite/Housefight.
Marissa Keith — Testified in person, representing herself as a parent and noting her work in Safe Routes to School.
Josh Keyser — Asks whether the bill removes the requirement for private or certified driver training.
Josh Keyser — Referenced as Senator Kaiser, who made the motion to send House Bill 628 to the floor.
Codi Galloway — Codi Galloway speaks in support of the motion, saying that as a parent of young adult drivers she understands the scheduling challenges involved in driver’s education, especially in an urban district. She argues that the proposal remains a workable option for concerned parents, noting that parents still do much of the driving practice and that greater flexibility for families is beneficial.
Ben Adams — Representative Mendez is thanked and noted in the transition to the next agenda item; likely a transcription error for a member name or title.
Gaston Patterson — Gaston Patterson is introduced as the gubernatorial appointee and then gives a continuous overview of his background and qualifications: he serves as airport director and fire chief in Coeur d’Alene, has been involved in aviation since his teens, and has experience across airport operations, commercial and private aviation, aerospace manufacturing, piloting, and aircraft building. He also mentions prior law enforcement service in Kootenai County and a family connection to fire service. Patterson says he wants to use this experience to support Idaho’s aviation system and improve safety. He then discusses Idaho’s growing aerospace and aviation manufacturing sector and describes a local innovation at the Coeur d’Alene airport involving temporary tower procedures, which he says is working alongside the federal contract tower program and could serve as a model. The discussion concludes with his explanation that the aeronautics advisory board would advise the Transportation Committee and governor and serve as a sounding board for aeronautical concerns.
Olivia Earle — Olivia Earle is introduced as the new Senate page and then introduces herself for the record. She says she is a Senate page from Westport, Connecticut, attends Boise High, and shares details about her activities and interests, including mock trial, ballet, horseback riding, shooting clay pigeons and pheasants, and bird hunting with her dad. She also explains her Dutch background and language skills, noting her mother is from the Netherlands, she has dual citizenship, Dutch was her first language, she knows Afrikaans, and she has studied French. She concludes by discussing her future plans, including interest in college in Washington, D.C., especially Georgetown or George Washington University, and a possible career in public service, such as working in the White House, state government, or the U.S. Senate. The committee thanks her for serving as a page and expresses appreciation for her help.
Van Burtenshaw — Van Burtenshaw spoke positively to the page and continued the conversation by encouraging them to write down their daily experiences and keep an open mind about possibly returning to the legislature in the future.