Idaho 2026 Regular Session

Legislative Session Day 26 Feb 6th, 2026

Idaho Senate Floor Meeting

Key Moments

  • Doug Ricks — Included in the roll call continuation.
  • James Ruchti — Called during roll call; transcription is unclear.
  • Carrie Semmelroth — Called during roll call; transcription is unclear.
  • Carrie Semmelroth — Recorded as voting nay in the paired vote.
  • Julie VanOrden — Called during roll call.
  • Julie VanOrden — Called during roll call vote on suspending the rules.
  • Julie VanOrden — Called in the roll call vote.
  • Janie Ward-Engelking — Called during roll call; transcription is unclear.
  • Janie Ward-Engelking — The transcript says 'Senator Den Hartog,' which appears to be a misidentification; likely refers to Senator Janie Ward-Engelking? Unclear, so preserved as spoken in text.
  • Janie Ward-Engelking — The transcript says 'Senator Dhan Hartog,' which appears to be a misrendering of a senator's name; uncertain.
  • Janie Ward-Engelking — The transcript says 'Senator Dan Hartog,' which appears to be a misrendering; uncertain.
  • Janie Ward-Engelking — The transcript says 'Senator Dan Hartog,' which appears to be a misrendering; uncertain.
  • Janie Ward-Engelking — Requested unanimous consent that all bills on second reading be read by number and author only.
  • Janie Ward-Engelking — Requested unanimous consent for abbreviated reading of second-reading bills.
  • Janie Ward-Engelking — Asked whether House Bill 559 was in this order of business.
  • Janie Ward-Engelking — Made the motion to suspend the rules for immediate consideration of House Bill 559.
  • Janie Ward-Engelking — Recognized to debate against the bill.
  • Glenneda Zuiderveld — Called during roll call; transcription is unclear.
  • Doug Armstrong — Named as the chaplain offering the prayer.
  • Melissa Wintrow — Idaho senators are collectively addressed in the prayer; no individual senator is singled out here.
  • Melissa Wintrow — Called during roll call vote on suspending the rules.
  • Melissa Wintrow — Melissa Wintrow is first called during the roll call, then immediately rises to request that a minority report on House Bill 559 be spread upon the journal.
  • Todd Lakey — Todd Lakey is identified multiple times as chairman in the committee report on the Senate Journal, with repeated references reinforcing the same role and no change in topic.
  • Todd Lakey — Called during roll call vote on suspending the rules; likely a garbled form of Lakey.
  • Todd Lakey — Included in the roll call continuation.
  • John Woude — John Weber was named in a gubernatorial appointment to the State Insurance Fund Board, and the appointment was then referred to the 10th order of business and held for one legislative day.
  • Daniel Foreman — Named as chairman in the committee report.
  • Daniel Foreman — Called during roll call vote on suspending the rules.
  • Daniel Foreman — Daniel Foreman is referenced during the roll call vote, first as being called and recorded as voting aye, and then again as part of the continued roll call sequence.
  • Codi Galloway — Called during roll call vote on suspending the rules.
  • Codi Galloway — Codi Galloway is called during the roll call vote and remains included as the roll call continues.
  • Mark Harris — Called during roll call vote on suspending the rules.
  • Jim Guthrie — Called during roll call vote on suspending the rules.
  • Jim Guthrie — Included in the roll call continuation.
  • Lori Hartog — Called during roll call vote on suspending the rules.
  • Tammy Nichols — Called during roll call vote on suspending the rules.
  • Tammy Nichols — Included in the roll call continuation.
  • James Woodward — Called during roll call vote on suspending the rules.
  • James Woodward — Called in the roll call vote.
  • Christy Zito — Called during roll call vote on suspending the rules.
  • Christy Zito — Senator Den Hartog spoke in support of the bill’s conformity approach, saying she appreciated the debate and was empathetic to the situation corporations find themselves in. She was also referenced by another speaker as the Senator from District 25 in the same ongoing discussion.
  • Christy Zito — Referenced generally in discussing public perception of why Idaho does not conform to federal deductions.
  • Chris Mathias — Recognized later in the debate sequence as Senator Cole appears to be a transcription error; exact speaker not confirmed from the provided list.
  • Shawn Dygert — Senator Taves spoke in favor of the bill, arguing that it would return money to taxpayers rather than expand government spending. He said he would vote yes because he believes it helps hardworking Idahoans keep their hard-earned money.
  • Rob Beiswenger — During debate on the bill, the chair called on Senator Rutkey to speak against the bill. A few minutes later, after debate had closed, there was a brief procedural exchange in which the chair attempted to recognize a senator, corrected the name, and apologized, indicating a transcript/name uncertainty rather than a new topic.
  • Cindy Carlson — Called in the roll call vote.
  • Kevin Cook — Called in the roll call vote.
  • Alison Rabe — A senator identified as Den Hartog moved to adjourn the Senate until 11 a.m. on Monday, February 9, 2026.
  • Ben Adams — Called present during roll call.
  • Ben Adams — Called in the roll call vote.