Justin Livingston — Justin Livingston, a District 20 resident and managing real estate broker with local housing policy expertise, testified in support of the bill. He explained that overly restrictive local ADU regulations can function like a ban and shared an example of a constituent trying to help his daughter and grandkids escape an abusive relationship and restart their lives. He also noted that Bend ultimately changed its ADU code to something similar to the legislation before concluding his remarks.
Ken Burgess — Ken Burgess, representing the Idaho Home Builders Association, introduced himself and his organization, then discussed housing affordability concerns, noting that legislators often ask how to lower home prices but that many market forces are beyond legislative control. He concluded by saying the legislature can help by reducing regulatory barriers to increase housing supply and expressed support for the bill and two other amended Senate bills on the agenda.
Jaron Crane — Representative Crane is called on and engages in a sustained line of questioning about the bill’s treatment of ADUs in HOA-governed developments. He asks whether a majority of homeowners could prohibit ADUs, notes a possible conflict between the bill language and the answers he is receiving, and presses for clarification using hypotheticals about a new subdivision in Nampa and whether a developer or HOA could bar ADUs. He then frames the issue as a private property rights matter, arguing that property owners should have flexibility so long as uses are not excessive, while still acknowledging regulation by HOAs and cities.
Jaron Crane — Likely 'Representative Crane 13' refers to Representative Jaron Crane; recorded as voting no.
Jaron Crane — Likely 'Representative Crane 12' refers to Jaron Crane; recorded as voting yes.
Jaron Crane — Introduces himself for the record as Representative Jaron Crane, District 12, Nampa, and begins presenting Senate Bill 1297.
Jaron Crane — The question is directed to Representative Crane for response.
Jaron Crane — Responds to Representative Green and points to operator requirements in the bill text.
Jaron Crane — The sponsor explains that the bill includes reporting requirements tied to harm or suicide and is then asked about disclosure language.
Jaron Crane — Was asked to respond to the AI-generated questions.
Jaron Crane — Explained the bill's definition of operator and noted exclusions for app stores and search engines.
Jaron Crane — The sponsor is being questioned about how operators determine whether an account holder is a minor.
Jaron Crane — Acknowledged the question about identifying minors and said Google may have a better response.
Jaron Crane — The chair announces moving to public testimony on the bill.
Jaron Crane — Jaron Crane closed on Senate Bill 1297, addressed a concern about how operators can determine whether an account holder is a minor, referenced related prior legislation about algorithmic recalculation, moved to send the bill as amended to the floor with a due pass recommendation, and then suggested going at ease briefly so an absent sponsor could return.
Jaron Crane — Representative Jaron Crane is referenced and then speaks in a continuous committee exchange about a housing bill. He asks Senator Taves whether the homes must be owner-occupied or could be rented out, and then expresses support for the effort while warning that without owner-occupancy or first-time buyer restrictions, the homes could be bought by people with more means instead of serving as starter homes. He questions why such restrictions were not included in the legislation.
Brooke Green — Representative Green is called on and responds to the bill discussion, saying she would have liked to see the bill apply to counties as well.
Brooke Green — Brooke Green repeatedly pressed for clarification on how the bill would apply to new developments, asking whether a developer can set CC&Rs or other restrictions in a brand-new development, including whether ADUs can be limited. She then explored how a developer might try to preserve such restrictions through individual buyer agreements, noted the conflict if a buyer refuses the restriction but still wants to purchase, and concluded that the legislation is intended to make ADUs more possible while potentially creating non-uniform CC&Rs once the development is transferred to an established HOA.
Brooke Green — Called during the roll call list.
Brooke Green — Identified as the member asking the first question/comment on the bill.
Brooke Green — Expresses concern about AI tools teaching or encouraging children toward violent acts.
Brooke Green — Asks how the bill would address AI tools that encourage violent behavior in children.
Brooke Green — Acknowledged by the sponsor as part of prior work on the issue.
Brooke Green — Called on briefly, then the chair says 'false alarm.'
Brooke Green — Asked whether other companies are taking the same initiative to protect children.
Brooke Green — Representative Brooke Green voiced strong support for the bill, praising the effort to protect children from harmful technology and noting that lawmakers should have taken similar proactive steps earlier when social media emerged.
Brooke Green — Not present in the spoken exchange here, but the section is part of the committee's question-and-answer discussion.
Brooke Green — Representative Birch is the questioner asking about safeguards and pricing.
Brooke Green — Representative Birch is the questioner asking about pricing and demand.
Brooke Green — Representative Green thanks Senator Taves and says she has seen similar development in Garden City.
Brooke Green — Representative Green asks where Idaho communities are saying no to starter-home development.
Brooke Green — Representative Birch continues to raise concerns about assumptions versus reality and points to resort communities as a housing need area.
Brooke Green — Referenced in the prior exchange context as part of the ongoing discussion, but not speaking in this section.
Brooke Green — Raised concern that without deed restrictions, investors could buy the homes and turn them into rentals, especially in Nampa.
Brooke Green — Argued that without deed restrictions, investors could buy the homes and turn them into rentals, making the effort less meaningful.
Brooke Green — Said the lack of deed restrictions could let investors buy homes and rent them out, calling the situation in Nampa a nightmare.
Brooke Green — Framed the bill as an incremental step and said deed restrictions could be added in a later session.
Brooke Green — Said the bill is an incremental step and that deed restrictions could be revisited in the next session.
Brooke Green — Referenced as having noted that the bill would not solve investor ownership or rental issues.
Brooke Green — Asked Sabrina Minshaw to confirm her transportation background and whether the bill affects LUPA.
Brooke Green — Asked whether the bill has any impact on LUPA.
Brooke Green — Recorded as voting yes.
David Cannon — Responded that HOA agreement is required.
David Cannon — Was addressed in the follow-up question about HOA restrictions.
David Cannon — Confirmed that the quoted bill language is correct.
David Cannon — The transcript appears to misidentify Representative Palmer as Representative Green before correcting.
David Cannon — Answered that cities may deny ADUs for infrastructure reasons.
David Cannon — Called during roll call; no vote is captured in this segment.
David Cannon — Recorded as voting no.
Steve Berch — Senator Taves clarified the bill’s effect on HOA ADU restrictions: existing HOA restrictions would remain in place, but HOAs could not impose new ADU restrictions going forward by majority vote. He explained that future restrictions would require the consent of each individual property owner, cited an Idaho Supreme Court ruling supporting that view, and noted that a majority could not take away ADU rights from owners where no restriction already exists. He also acknowledged that the application to new HOAs is somewhat of a gray area, but reiterated that a majority cannot force the restriction on individual lots.