Idaho 2026 Regular Session

Legislative Session Day 43 Feb 23rd, 2026

Idaho Senate Floor Meeting

Key Moments

  • Kevin Cook — Kevin Cook was called during roll call.
  • Kevin Cook — Called on the roll.
  • Brian Lenney — Called during roll call.
  • Brian Lenney — Brian Lenney was called on during the roll call and his vote was recorded as aye.
  • Brian Lenney — Brian Lenney was called during the roll vote, with the transcript showing uncertain name variants ('Lennie,' 'Lenney,' and 'Lent'), and his vote was recorded as aye.
  • Dave Lent — Called during roll call.
  • Tammy Nichols — Called during roll call.
  • Tammy Nichols — Called on the roll.
  • Tammy Nichols — Recorded as voting aye during the roll call.
  • James Ruchti — James Ruchti is called during roll call, though his name appears in garbled form in the transcript across the overlapping mentions.
  • James Ruchti — Likely the senator referred to as 'Robbie'; makes an introduction of guests.
  • James Ruchti — Called during the roll vote; transcript appears as 'Ruchti? Right.'
  • Carrie Semmelroth — Carrie Semmelroth is mentioned during roll call, with her name distorted in the transcript, and appears to be one of the members being confirmed present.
  • Carrie Semmelroth — Recorded as voting aye during the roll call.
  • Julie VanOrden — Called during roll call.
  • Julie VanOrden — Called on the roll.
  • Julie VanOrden — Called during the roll vote; transcript appears as 'Taves.'
  • Julie VanOrden — Announced that the majority will caucus immediately after the floor session.
  • Janie Ward-Engelking — Called during roll call; name is distorted.
  • Janie Ward-Engelking — Called on the roll; vote recorded as aye.
  • Janie Ward-Engelking — Called on the roll.
  • Janie Ward-Engelking — Likely the speaker identified as 'Senator D. Hartog' is actually Senator Den Hartog; the transcript is unclear.
  • Janie Ward-Engelking — Appears in the roll call vote list.
  • Janie Ward-Engelking — Announced that the minority will caucus immediately after session.
  • Melissa Wintrow — Called during roll call; name is distorted.
  • Melissa Wintrow — Not directly named, but 'our own senators' refers generally to the chamber.
  • Melissa Wintrow — Called on the roll.
  • Melissa Wintrow — Senator Melissa Wintrow appears in the roll call vote sequence, first as part of the vote list and then when her name is called during the same roll vote.
  • Glenneda Zuiderveld — Called during roll call; name is distorted.
  • Glenneda Zuiderveld — During the roll call, Glenneda Zuiderveld was called despite some transcript name confusion, and she was ultimately recorded as voting aye.
  • Ben Adams — Called during roll call.
  • Ben Adams — The Senate recognized Senator Adams as being present in the 12th order of business.
  • Ben Adams — Called on the roll; vote recorded as aye.
  • Ben Adams — Called during the roll vote on House Bill 504.
  • Doug Armstrong — Doug Armstrong, the chaplain, delivers the opening prayer and then continues with a brief welcoming reflection, beginning to mention Israel, Jordan, and Masada.
  • Mike Garcia — Introduced as a friend and business owner in downtown Reading; owns 'Lou Screw Bruco' per transcript.
  • Molly Ledbetter — Introduced as a longtime friend and owner of Merriweather Cider.
  • Jessica Moon — Introduced as a longtime friend.
  • Kate Pettus — Introduced as a longtime friend.
  • Rex and Harriet — Children of the guests, greeted by the senator.
  • Sheriff Chris Gates — His email from Clearwater County was read into the record describing a mental health crisis involving a tribal member.
  • Carl Bjerke — Senator Kaiser spoke in support of the bill, explaining how mental holds work in law enforcement for someone experiencing a mental episode and concluding by urging an aye vote.
  • Treg Bernt — Called on the roll.
  • Camille Blaylock — Called on the roll.
  • Doug Ricks — Called on the roll; vote recorded as aye.
  • James Woodward — Called on the roll.
  • James Woodward — Recorded as voting aye during the roll call.
  • Christy Zito — Called on the roll; vote recorded as aye.
  • Christy Zito — Senator Blaylock handled the final consideration of Senate Bill 1265 by requesting unanimous consent to dispense with further reading and place the bill before the Senate, then closing debate when no further discussion occurred. The sequence continues into the roll-call vote on the bill, including vote-list references and a recorded no vote for Christy Zito.
  • Barbara Ehardt — Called on the roll.