Boise PD witnesses — The speaker notes that witnesses from Boise Police Department are present.
Braden Jensen — Braden Jensen, speaking for the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation, testified in support of the legislation and explained that the bill is intended to create parity across the hemp supply chain and ensure retail products are accurately represented and compliant. In response to committee questions, he said the $600 license fee is intended to support enforcement through the Department of Agriculture, emphasized that Idaho should enforce its existing hemp laws, and compared Idaho’s approach with stricter enforcement in other states. He also addressed questions about THC by noting that Idaho law prohibits THC in consumable or personal-use products, acknowledged that the bill’s language could be clarified further, and said law enforcement testimony would help make the intent crystal clear.
Braden Jensen — Braden Jensen, speaking on behalf of Farm Bureau, raises concerns about THC limits and asks to bring up Director T. Walt for clarification. In the follow-up discussion, his point is characterized as being about parity, indicating the same broader policy issue is being discussed.
Braden Jensen — Braden Jensen was identified as being present with the Idaho Farm Bureau and available to answer questions, then testified on behalf of the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation in strong support of House Bill 772.
Cameron Colos — Cameron Colos, a Boise police officer and alcohol compliance officer, testified about law enforcement’s experience with vape and smoke shops in Boise. He explained that officers encountered products being sold as CBD or paraphernalia that may actually contain controlled substances or THC, and that there is currently no clear enforcement mechanism to regulate these products. He said the bill would give law enforcement and the Department of Agriculture a testing process to verify products and help ensure retail items are lawful and THC-free. He also described Boise’s enforcement efforts against stores selling paraphernalia and controlled substances and concluded by offering to answer questions.
Ron Taylor — Asked whether retail outlets are knowingly selling illegal products.
Ron Taylor — Representative Nelson follows up on an earlier hemp-for-fiber case in which a semi-load tested positive for THC, arguing that the situation put law enforcement in a difficult position and suggesting there should be a minimum or maximum THC threshold. He presses the point by asking what happens if THC levels only rise by parts per million or parts per trillion, and Wall responds directly to his question about the prior case.
Mr. Colos — Mr. Colos explained that some retailers knowingly or unknowingly sell questionable CBD products, often due to misinformation from distributors entering the Idaho market and sometimes manipulated lab tests claiming compliance. He said state lab testing has found THC in products that were represented as compliant, and that products can be collected and tested to either educate retailers or take enforcement action if needed. He concluded by emphasizing that consumers should receive CBD-only products that do not contain THC or other cannabinoids.
Julie VanOrden — Representative VanOrden asked what happens when products are found to contain THC, including what actions are taken against the business and whether any legal process or legal action follows. After the response, she briefly said 'follow up' and then thanked the officer before yielding to Representative Matthias.
Haley Zutt Talbot / Haley Talbitts — The chair called the next witness, though the name appears inconsistently transcribed.
Haley Talbitts — Haley Talbitts, a Boise Police Department officer with 10 years of service focused on DUI enforcement and related drug investigations, introduced a specific case to illustrate the difference between holding citizens versus business owners accountable. She described a traffic stop involving a driver who had packaging and a receipt indicating the product contained zero THC and 17% CBD, but field testing showed THC was present. She said the driver was not charged because he intended to buy a CBD product he believed contained no THC, using the incident to argue that businesses can sell mislabeled products that create legal problems for consumers.
Officer Colos — Referenced as having covered much of the same material.
Pam Eaton — Pam Eaton, representing the Idaho Retailers Association, testified that the association supports the bill’s basic purpose but wants it narrowed so it does not unintentionally regulate mainstream retail hemp-based products such as shampoos, lotions, and hemp rope. She said the sponsors were receptive to narrowing the scope and that stores selling only ancillary hemp products should not be swept into the regulation. In response to questions, she stated that she does not believe the current bill creates barriers to entering or participating in the market and described the fee as reasonable, while noting the bill is still being negotiated.
Tammy Nichols — The chair recognizes a question and then the speaker apologizes for missing the light.
Director T. Walt — Requested to provide clarification on permissible THC limits.
Chanel T. Wall — Chanel T. Wall, director of ISDA, explains that the bill works within existing hemp and controlled substances definitions and that Idaho’s marijuana and hemp definitions must be read together. She notes that hemp products such as protein powders, seed oil, and seeds are carved out under federal and state law, and that CBD can be produced without THC when done properly. She also describes ISDA’s close coordination with law enforcement and says hemp production is carefully monitored from planting through processing, while retail products are not subject to the same regular, predictable inspections. In that context, she says the bill does not change the product definitions so much as determine which agency will conduct routine oversight, and she references the 2018 Farm Bill transition period as part of the regulatory background.
Carrie Semmelroth — Director Wall references questions raised by Representative Diger about the bill and existing statute.
Director — The director is invited to comment on the threshold question.
Mr. Jensen — Mr. Jensen explained that mature hemp can spike above the 0.3% THC limit, so crops must be tested before transport and remediated on site if they exceed the threshold. He said the bill preserves the requirement to remediate hemp before it leaves the premises, while clarifying that producers who meet the bill’s conditions are not treated as having committed a negligent violation. He emphasized that this clarification matters because THC spikes can occur outside a grower’s control and repeated negligent violations can jeopardize a hemp license.
Mr. Don Galswick — Identified as the chairman for IDPC and present with Dairy West.
Steve Seppi — Steve Seppi, CEO of Dairy West, introduced himself and began a presentation/update on Dairy West’s work on behalf of producers. He said he would walk through a few slides, joked that he would not mention THC, and then transitioned into an overview of Dairy West as the local dairy checkoff and its regional structure and recent changes.
Heidi — A team member who was expected to attend but was under the weather; described as a dietitian who grew up on a beef ranch in Idaho.
Trevor Fleege — Trevor Fleege is cited as the author of an email from Wisconsin that is read into the record, with the message used to support the discussion about the protein story and sustainability narrative.