Ron Taylor — Addressed by Chanel Tewalt during her response about hemp and THC levels.
Ron Taylor — Made the motion to send House Bill 772 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
Christy Zito — Takes over as Vice Chair to conduct the next bills.
Christy Zito — Christy Zito is repeatedly addressed as Madam Vice Chair/Chair during a brief procedural exchange, including a transition to bringing up Officer Kolos and a short follow-up question/comment.
Tammy Nichols — Senator Tammy Nichols introduces House Bill 879, identifies herself for the record, and explains the bill’s background from a prior session’s hemp grower discussion. In the same exchange, she is also acknowledged and thanked for bringing the bill and scheduling the hearing.
Tammy Nichols — Senator Tammy Nichols is introduced and identified as the sponsor of House Bill 772, delivers opening and closing remarks, addresses the chair and vice chair during the proceedings, yields time to a witness, and is thanked for bringing and scheduling the bill for hearing.
Tammy Nichols — Tammy Nichols is addressed during the bill’s closing and then continues in the same exchange to clarify that the bill does not change the circumstances under which hemp can leave the field, with follow-up discussion touching on industrial hemp and THC levels.
Tammy Nichols — The speaker says the time will be turned back over to Chairman Nichols and notes the committee will be subject to the call of the chair after today.
Braden Jensen — Braden Jensen, representing the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation, introduced his testimony on the bill and later briefly responded to Senator Lakey’s question, thanking the chair and committee for their thoroughness.
Braden Jensen — Introduces himself as being with the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation and thanks Senator Nichols and the committee.
Director Tewalt — Identified as present to answer questions.
Officer Cameron Colos — Identified as present from the Boise Police Department to answer questions.
Mr. Jensen — Mr. Jensen responds to questions about the bill’s wording and scope, explaining that hemp products intended for human ingestion or inhalation are covered under the chapter except for three excluded items: whole hemp seed, hemp seed protein powder, and hemp seed oil. He notes that this could include vape products, says the bill is mainly clarifying existing code regarding THC in retail products, and acknowledges that he does not know the technical or practical reasons people use these products, deferring more detailed questions to others.
Mr. Jensen — Mr. Jensen is yielded time to explain the bill’s technical hemp provisions. He describes the licensing and inspection process for industrial hemp growers, the requirement that crops be tested before harvest and removal from the site, and the need to remediate any crop that exceeds the THC threshold so it falls below 0.3% before leaving the growing site. He also clarifies that the crop may leave the field under 0.3% THC, distinguishing that standard from the 0% THC requirement for retail products.
Carrie Semmelroth — Senator Semmelroth asked for clarification on the distinctions between Delta 8 and Delta 9 in CBD products, how those substances are derived in relation to hemp versus marijuana, whether a federal bill created and then closed a loophole involving those substances, and whether federal changes affect Idaho's state-level hemp and marijuana rules.
Carrie Semmelroth — During the motion discussion, Senator Cole is repeatedly addressed and referenced, including an initial acknowledgment, continued participation in the motion exchange, and a final expression of thanks. The transcript captions likely misidentify the speaker, but the references all belong to the same continuous discussion.
Chanel Tewalt — Chanel Tewalt, Director of ISDA, introduced herself and then explained that Idaho law already covers Delta 8 and Delta 9 under the current THC definitions. She clarified that the bill does not change the legal definitions or create a new loophole issue, but instead gives ISDA oversight of the current legality and enforcement of retail hemp/THC products. She distinguished between hemp, marijuana, and THC definitions, noted that ISDA regulates farmers and processors but not retail, and emphasized that the real issue is how retail enforcement occurs under existing law.
Cameron Colos — Cameron Colos introduced himself as a Boise police officer with 18 years of law enforcement experience and explained that his work involves alcohol compliance, vape and smoke shop enforcement, youth access to age-restricted products, substance abuse, and DUI-related issues. He then described his experience with retail stores and law enforcement’s concerns about products sold there, arguing that these products affect public safety through substance abuse and impaired driving and that a regulatory framework is needed.
Officer Colos — Officer Colos explained that the listed hemp-derived products are the only FDA-approved products for human consumption and said he was unaware of any misuse. He further clarified that he was not aware of any way those products could be used to access or ingest THC, and stated they are FDA-approved and legal in Idaho.
Officer Kolos — Confirmed the bill is intended to address products with THC that are being sold under the guise of hemp.
other professionals in the audience — Referenced as people who could explain how the bill would work in practice and how the department would interact with it.
the director — Referenced as someone who could explain the process in place for handling hemp products.
Monty Stiles — Monty Stiles, a former federal drug prosecutor and drug prevention advocate, testified in opposition to the bill. He praised prior enforcement efforts in Boise but argued that such control is not being replicated statewide. He said he was not criticizing the sponsor or legitimate hemp farmers, but contended that the hemp industry previously made exaggerated promises and that the legislature was right to adopt a restrictive hemp law. He then warned about a separate marijuana legalization initiative, noting it had already raised significant money, and urged the committee to investigate it and question whether hemp farmers should be assisted if they could become pot producers under that initiative.
Mr. Stiles — His comments were referenced during discussion of the motion.
Julie VanOrden — Julie VanOrden was referenced in the motion to approve the March 10, 2026 minutes and then stated that she had read the minutes and found them to be in order, effectively moving their approval.
Dave Lent — Seconded the motion to approve the minutes.
Dave Lent — Senator Lent questioned the bill’s hemp-related language, asking what 'inhalation' means in this context and whether vape products are included. He expressed confusion about repeated references to items being 'excluded,' noted that products may contain no THC or only trace amounts yet still be vaped, and said the drafting was unclear and unsatisfactory. Later remarks continued to reference Senator Lent’s questions and the same definitional concerns, including whether the clause in the bill was necessary.
Dave Lent — Senator Lent took the floor following the canine/THC discussion and asked whether anyone knows how many producers have been charged with a negligent violation related to the issue.
Dave Lent — A likely transcription error appears to reference Senator Lent when asking whether his nay should be recorded.
Isabella — Isabella is recognized as a page and invited to the podium, where she reflects on how intimidating her first days were and how she initially put legislators on a pedestal. She then shares that she plans to attend Montana State in Bozeman to study agribusiness and hopes either to become an agricultural lobbyist or return home to farm. The exchange concludes with encouragement from Jensen, who says he looks forward to seeing her future contributions to the industry.
Isabel Frasheiser — Isabel Frasheiser introduces herself to the committee, greets the chair and members, and thanks them for being welcoming as she begins speaking about her experience as a page.
Todd Lakey — Todd Lakey is invited to ask the page a question, then thanks the chair and praises Isabella before asking what surprised her most about serving as a page and about the committee experience.
Todd Lakey — Asked whether the hemp products at issue are zero THC and expressed concern about avoiding marijuana legalization.
Todd Lakey — Continued questioning about whether excluded hemp products contain THC and whether the bill opens the door to unlawful products.
Todd Lakey — His question about THC and legality is answered; the witness reiterates the products have 0% THC.
Todd Lakey — Officer Colos and others may address issues raised in response to questions from Senator Lakey earlier in the discussion.
Todd Lakey — Asked for confirmation that the products intended for human ingestion or inhalation, including excluded products, have no THC.
Todd Lakey — His question about THC content was answered by Director Tewalt.
Todd Lakey — Speaker is likely Senator Lent, asking follow-up questions about the bill language.
Todd Lakey — His earlier point about zero THC concentration is referenced.
Todd Lakey — Senator Lakey is referenced as part of the discussion about enforcement and THC products.
Todd Lakey — Asked for clarification about negligent violations and whether a crop with elevated THC must be remediated before leaving the field.
Todd Lakey — Addressed directly while the witness confirmed his understanding of the remediation process and THC threshold.
Todd Lakey — Asked for clarification about whether the crop must leave the field at zero THC.
Todd Lakey — Sought clarification on whether the crop must leave the field at zero THC.
Todd Lakey — Responded to the closing remarks and indicated he wanted to clarify Mr. Jensen's explanation.
Todd Lakey — Addressed in the clarification that the bill does not change the standard for hemp leaving the field.
Todd Lakey — Raised a question for Officer Colos about law enforcement and hemp.
Todd Lakey — Explained his concern that hemp could complicate marijuana interdiction efforts.
Todd Lakey — Asked whether drug dogs can tell the difference between THC levels.