Doug Ricks — Senator Ricks explains there are currently two methods and the bill adds protections for firing squad.
Doug Ricks — Senator Ricks responds that the bill text itself makes the intent clear.
Doug Ricks — Senator Ricks responds that IDOC makes procedures public through standard operating procedures.
Doug Ricks — Senator Ricks says the Department of Correction has procedures laid out and available for review.
Doug Ricks — Senator Ricks reiterates that standard operating procedures are available on the IDOC web page.
Doug Ricks — Senator Ricks finishes answering questions and the chair notes a signed-in witness.
Doug Ricks — Director Derek references Senator Ricks's earlier explanation of the challenges and exemption.
Doug Ricks — Senator Ricks concludes by supporting the bill and asking for a due pass recommendation.
Doug Ricks — Senator Ricks is thanked for his testimony and asked to return to the committee.
Jim Guthrie — His request is cited for one of the RS print motions.
Daniel Foreman — Makes the motion to send the RSs to print.
Daniel Foreman — Senator Foreman seconds the motion on House Bill 803.
Daniel Foreman — Made the motion to send House Bill 752 to the floor with a due pass.
James Ruchti — Senator Ruchti seeks clarification on the bill’s purpose and scope, asking whether the change was made because firing squad was added or whether it applies to all execution methods, and what specific section of Title 67, Chapter 52 prompted the legislation.
James Ruchti — Senator Ruchti is handed the floor and questions why the proposed statute is needed instead of relying on existing criminal laws. He then follows up by asking whether requiring separate bathrooms would be a workable alternative, pressing the point and drawing a response that he is assuming the bill is about something other than its stated purpose. Later, he returns to the same issue by asking why a separate but equal bathroom would not solve the problem.
Dave Lent — Chairman Lakey is addressed, but the transcript likely mishears his name; context indicates the chair is Senator Lakey.
Dave Lent — Addressed by the witness in response to the question.
Melissa Wintrow — Senator Wintrow repeatedly questions why the bill would remove the director and corrections from the protections and oversight of Title 67, Chapter 52 and the APA, arguing that those procedures provide important transparency, accountability, and minimum safeguards. She presses why the legislation is needed if the department is already exempt, and why corrections should be exempt when other state agencies are not. The exchange remains focused on the loss of procedural oversight and the justification for creating or reaffirming the exemption.
Melissa Wintrow — Asked Nixon Matthews how restroom access would work if Matthews were elected to the Senate.
Melissa Wintrow — Senator Wintrow first offered a brief supportive and apologetic comment to Tara Townsell, then later returned to speak at length against the bill. She argued the measure is unnecessary because existing laws already address the issue, said it unfairly targets and dehumanizes people, compared its logic to segregation and other discriminatory laws, and emphasized that she does not need protection from men but rather wants people to be treated with dignity and allowed to live their lives without being singled out.
Eric Geronda — Eric Geronda is identified and then testifies against the bill, stating his opposition on religious grounds and concluding his remarks by saying that is his testimony. A subsequent brief comment follows in the same exchange, expressing concurrence with the prior gentleman's remarks.
Rebecca Mallory Seward — Rebecca Mallory Seward identifies herself as a former 2010 House page and testifies in support of the legislation. She says the bill is important to her, agrees with the prior witness and Senator Wintrow, and adds that she fully concurs with the Bible-based objection to striking the legislation.
Ms. Seward — The chair thanked Ms. Seward for her testimony and indicated there were no questions.
Director Derek — Director Derek explains that the Idaho Department of Correction already operates under an APA exemption, while its procedures remain publicly posted online and open to challenge. He says the bill is intended only to clarify that the director falls under the same exemption the court has recognized, reflecting legislative intent as understood by the court, though he does not claim to know what the legislature originally intended when the APA statute was enacted.
Jeff Cornilles — Senator Kaiser moves to send House Bill 803 to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation.
Josh Tanner — Senator Taves is introduced to the committee and invited to present House Bill 752. He then opens his testimony by identifying himself and explaining that the bill concerns privacy and sex-separated spaces.
Bruce Skaug — The chair is addressed as Mr. Chairman; the transcript later identifies the chair as Senator Lakey, but no direct member mention here beyond the procedural address.
Tammy Nichols — Senator Wintrow repeatedly questions the bill’s exceptions, asking how they were developed, why the list is so lengthy, and specifically why a coaching exception would allow access to shower or locker rooms. She then presses on enforcement concerns, including how law enforcement would distinguish a dire emergency from ordinary restroom use and how someone would prove they were in the wrong bathroom. The exchange continues as her prior questions are answered, she is briefly cut off due to time, and she is given one final question before public testimony begins.
Doug Okuniewicz — In a continuous exchange, speakers address the chair as Mr. Chairman and then specifically as Chairman Lakey/Senator Lakey, with Senator Taves thanking him and responding to him. The mentions collectively reflect a single chair-directed segment of the meeting.
Doug Okuniewicz — The speaker twice thanked Senator Taves for bringing the bill, expressing appreciation for his role in introducing it.
Nixon Matthews — Nixon Matthews, a Boise resident and proud trans Idahoan, testified in opposition to the bill. He argued that existing Idaho laws already address the conduct at issue and said the bill would create confusion and unfairly target transgender people by forcing them into inappropriate restroom situations. He described how restroom uncertainty can lead to avoidance and discomfort, noted that single-use bathrooms are not always available, and questioned why using a men's restroom to wash hands or use a stall would be harmful. He concluded by rejecting the bill’s implied "separate but equal" approach, comparing it to historical segregation.
Brian Lenney — Asked whether single-use bathrooms were an option for the witness.
Jennifer Hook — Jennifer Hook testified in support of H.B. 752, describing a traumatic experience in a women's locker room where she encountered a man coming out of the shower. She connected the incident to prior sexual assault and explained its ongoing psychological and physical impact. She said the experience underscored the need to safeguard women's and children's rights to safe spaces, and in response to a follow-up question, added that she was working as a YMCA lifeguard at the time and had duties that included patrolling the locker rooms.
Ms. Hook — Ms. Hook described her duties as a lifeguard, including patrolling the locker rooms every 15 minutes, and recounted finding a man in the women's locker room. She said she escalated the situation to supervisors and called 911, but her superiors told her there was nothing to be done and to carry on. She also stated that YMCA policy and a city ordinance were cited as allowing the situation.
Tara Townsell — Tara Townsell was called to testify, introduced herself as a self-represented witness from Nampa, Idaho, District 10, and stated her opposition to HB 752. Senator Wintrow then responded directly, thanking her for her courage in sharing her testimony and standing up for others.
Robert Gillis — Robert Gillis, with Idaho Tough on Crime, testified that the issue falls within his focus on protecting women and children. He argued that women should have standing to act when privacy is violated in bathrooms, locker rooms, or changing rooms, citing a reasonable expectation of privacy and examples of camera-related incidents in Twin Falls and Boise to show the problem is real in Idaho. He concluded that the issue is about safety rather than politics and asked the committee to pass the bill.
Mr. Gillis — Mr. Gillis responds to committee questions by supporting the bill as a measure to protect women and children and saying its intent makes sense to him. He argues that families depend on the legislature and peace officers for protection, notes that society has long recognized separate men’s and women’s bathrooms, and says changing social norms are prompting the need for the bill. He concludes that conduct in a bathroom should be treated as enforceable under the law, unlike hypothetical conduct outside the Capitol.
Carolyn Blackhurst — Carolyn Blackhurst testified in opposition to HB 752, introducing herself and asking the committee to vote no. She described how the bill would harm her transgender godson, who left Idaho because he no longer felt safe, and argued that the measure would criminalize transgender people for using the bathroom where they belong. She emphasized that transgender people need protection rather than restrictions, framed her opposition in terms of faith, dignity, and compassion, and urged the committee to reject the discriminatory bill.
Senator Taves — Closed in support of the bill, arguing current law is inadequate and that the bill would help prevent harm and camera placement.
Rick Carnaroli — The appointee is being brought in virtually for the committee hearing.
Judge Rick Carnaroli — Judge Rick Carnaroli introduced himself as a Sixth District Judge and Governor Little’s nominee to the Idaho Judicial Council, explained his long judicial service and why he wants to serve, and emphasized his commitment to helping select strong judges who treat people with dignity and uphold the integrity of the judiciary. The discussion then moved to committee action on his appointment, including a motion to send the nomination to the floor with a recommendation for confirmation and supportive remarks from a senator describing him as a fair, effective judge who is especially good with jurors.
Judge Randy Smith — Referenced as a friend who presided over the magistrate commission and gave advice about judicial conduct.
Todd Lakey — Chairman Lakey is referenced as asking the witness to keep remarks brief.
Todd Lakey — Will take over the gavel and later conduct the vote on the appointment.
Todd Lakey — Chairman Lakey is addressing Senator Ricks.
Brandon Shippy — Thanked for conducting the meeting in the chair's absence; likely the intended name behind 'Shippey.'
Brandon Shippy — Provided the second to the motion to print the RSs.
Doug Ricks — Identified as the senator providing the second to the motion.
Doug Ricks — Introduces himself and presents House Bill 803.
Doug Ricks — Senator Ricks presents the bill and answers questions.