Idaho 2026 Regular Session

Legislative Session Day 67 Mar 19th, 2026

Idaho Senate Floor Meeting

Key Moments

  • Todd Lakey — Todd Lakey is identified during the meeting, first in roll call and then repeatedly as the chairman of the Judiciary and Rules Committee while committee reports and Senate bills, including gubernatorial appointments, are presented.
  • Todd Lakey — Called during the roll call vote on Senate Bill 1359.
  • Todd Lakey — Likely the 'Kaiser' roll-call name.
  • Todd Lakey — Lakey was repeatedly called during the roll call vote on House Bill 870 as the clerk continued reading through members’ names and responses.
  • Todd Lakey — Todd Lakey is mentioned during roll call and quorum checks, and then as chairman he reports that Senate Bill 1241 and Senate Joint Memorial 110 were correctly enrolled and that enrolled measures were delivered to the Secretary of State and Governor.
  • Todd Lakey — Todd Lakey was called during roll call and recorded as aye, with a later roll call mention of his name as part of the same voting sequence.
  • Todd Lakey — Appears in the roll call vote.
  • Brian Lenney — Called during roll call; transcription says 'Lenny.'
  • Brian Lenney — Called during the roll call vote on Senate Bill 1359.
  • Brian Lenney — Senator Brian Lenney is identified in the transcript, then appears as the speaker asking Senator Galloway to yield to a question, and is subsequently referenced by district number as the senator from 13. The mentions collectively capture the identification of Lenney and his participation in the floor exchange.
  • Brian Lenney — Senator Lenny is recognized to debate the bill.
  • Brian Lenney — During roll call, Brian Lenney was called as 'Lenny' and then recorded as responding 'No.'
  • Carrie Semmelroth — Senator Carrie Semmelroth is called during roll call; the transcript renders her name as 'Semaroth.'
  • Carrie Semmelroth — Carrie Semmelroth is mentioned twice during the roll call vote sequence, appearing as slightly different transcriptions of her name ('Samarath' and 'Semaroth').
  • Carrie Semmelroth — Called during the roll call vote on Senate Bill 1359.
  • Carrie Semmelroth — Likely the 'Semaroff' roll-call name.
  • Carrie Semmelroth — Explained that the reduction is cumulative and that the combined maintenance and enhancement budgets result in a net 2% reduction.
  • Carrie Semmelroth — The budget discussion continues, with the 2.8% reduction figure being restated.
  • Carrie Semmelroth — Closed debate on House Bill 871 after explaining the property tax education appropriation.
  • Carrie Semmelroth — Closes debate and initiates the roll call vote.
  • Carrie Semmelroth — Included in the roll call vote.
  • Carrie Semmelroth — The roll call continues around her name and the vote change occurs during the vote tally.
  • Carrie Semmelroth — Requested unanimous consent to take up House Bill 876 immediately and dispense with further reading.
  • Carrie Semmelroth — Opened debate on House Bill 876 after unanimous consent to dispense with further reading.
  • Carrie Semmelroth — Presented the maintenance budget for the Office of the State Board of Education.
  • Carrie Semmelroth — Carrie Semmelroth makes Senate Rule 39H conflict-of-interest declarations regarding her employment ties to higher education institutions referenced in the bill, and the presiding officer acknowledges and records the declaration in the journal.
  • Carrie Semmelroth — Carrie Semmelroth is called during quorum roll call, with the transcription rendering her name as 'Semaroth' in both mentions.
  • James Ruchti — Senator James Ruchti was called during roll call, with the transcript capturing his name in slightly different forms ('Robbie' and 'Rutte').
  • James Ruchti — The senator is referenced in a brief exchange about scam calls, where the speaker says they did not coordinate and jokes that the Senator from 29 'stole my thunder' by telling a similar story. A few minutes later, the senator is praised again and cited in a discussion about virtual currency, with the speaker noting that, like the Senator from 29, they have also looked into it.
  • James Ruchti — Called during the roll call vote on Senate Bill 1359.
  • James Ruchti — Named in the roll call.
  • James Ruchti — Referenced indirectly as the senator from District 15, though the transcript is unclear.
  • James Ruchti — Recorded as voting aye.
  • James Ruchti — James Ruchti is repeatedly called during quorum roll call, with several transcription variants of his name, and later his presence is formally recognized.
  • Doug Ricks — Called during roll call.
  • Doug Ricks — Appears in the roll call vote sequence.
  • Doug Ricks — During the roll call vote on Senate Bill 1359, Doug Ricks was called and then immediately asked to change his vote.
  • Doug Ricks — Appears in the roll call vote.
  • Brandon Shippy — Called during roll call; transcription says 'Shippee.'
  • Brandon Shippy — Brandon Shippy was called during the roll call vote on Senate Bill 1359.
  • Brandon Shippy — Likely the 'Shippie' roll-call name.
  • Brandon Shippy — During roll call, Brandon Shippy was called and recorded as voting aye; he was called again shortly afterward as part of the same roll call process.
  • Ron Taylor — Called during roll call.
  • Ron Taylor — Ron Taylor was called during the roll call vote on Senate Bill 1359 and was recorded as voting aye.
  • Ron Taylor — Named in the roll call.
  • Ron Taylor — Senator Taylor moved that the Senate adopt the committee report, seconded the motion, opened debate, and spoke in support of Jim Keating’s nomination. He noted that Keating had previously filled a one-year term, is now being considered for a three-year term, has lived in the Wood River Valley for more than 30 years, graduated from Dartmouth with a history degree, and is well suited for the position. Taylor then closed debate on the motion.
  • Julie VanOrden — Called during roll call.
  • Julie VanOrden — Noted as present for the journal.
  • Julie VanOrden — Named as chair of the Health and Welfare Committee.
  • Julie VanOrden — Appears in the roll call vote sequence.