Idaho 2026 Regular Session

Agenda Apr 1st, 2026

Senate State Affairs Committee

Key Moments

  • James Ruchti — Referenced as having made the prior motion or comment; the speaker says they are standing for questions.
  • James Ruchti — The speaker says he is pinch-hitting for Representative Palmer.
  • James Ruchti — Called on to ask a question and later identified as making a motion.
  • James Ruchti — The motion to hold the bill is reiterated by the chair.
  • James Ruchti — His motion is referred to as the 'April Fool’s motion' in a joking exchange.
  • James Ruchti — Pickering responds to Alfieri’s earlier point about district representation.
  • James Ruchti — Cynthia Gibson supports Representative Church’s motion; the text likely refers to the motion made earlier in the meeting.
  • James Ruchti — The speaker references the committee’s earlier timing concerns and responds to them in support of the bill.
  • James Ruchti — The chair asks for questions for Representative Van der Woude after his remarks.
  • James Ruchti — Representative Church is thanked after his comment opposing partisan politics in the district’s governance.
  • Ben Toews — Addressed in the question about nationality and racial profiling.
  • Ben Toews — Asked about how immigration status would be established after arrest.
  • Ben Toews — Described as the person knowledgeable about immigration issues.
  • Ben Toews — Introduced a substitute motion to hold Senate Bill 1442 at the call of the chair.
  • Ben Toews — Thanked after the motion carried.
  • Jim Guthrie — Said to have called the speaker and asked them to present the bill.
  • Jim Guthrie — Addressed as the chair while the speaker discussed the next bill and motion.
  • Brandon Shippy — Representative Vanderbara/Vanderbata was called on and addressed immediately after the vote; the transcript appears to contain a garbled spelling of the same member’s name.
  • Lori Hartog — Referenced as being on the bill and identified as the speaker's daughter.
  • Alexis Pickering — Alexis Pickering is introduced as the first witness testifying in opposition to the bill. She then identifies herself as the commission vice president of the Ada County Highway District, states that she is speaking for herself, and asks the committee to vote no on Senate Bill 1356.
  • Miranda Gold — Miranda Gold, president of the Ada County Highway District Board of Commissioners, testifies in opposition to the bill. After her remarks, the chair thanks her and asks for questions.
  • Cynthia Gibson — Cynthia Gibson appears as a public witness, identifies herself for the record, and explains that although she works for the Idaho Conservation League, she is testifying in her personal capacity as a 36-year resident of Ada County. The chair then thanks her and asks if there are questions, signaling the close of her testimony.
  • Mark Harris — Addressed in the exchange about identification and immigration status.
  • Mark Harris — Addressed as making a good point about the public posting of arrest information.
  • Mark Harris — Mark Harris echoes Representative Alfieri’s point about local voters and partisan politics. Shortly afterward, Representative Palmer is called on and responds that the issue is already highly partisan, offering to support that view with records.
  • James Ruchti — The speaker says they are supporting Church's motion.
  • James Ruchti — Referenced in connection with the motion under discussion.
  • James Ruchti — Made a comment clarifying that 'verify' means to verify and that release would not be allowed without recording status.
  • Mark Harris — Referenced as the member being addressed while the speaker criticized the bill's arrest provisions.
  • Mark Harris — Addressed by the chair/speaker while asking a follow-up question.
  • James Ruchti — Speaker says they are pinch-hitting for Representative Palmer.