Mark Harris — Senator Harris moves to approve the minutes of January 15, 2026, and the motion is subsequently attributed to him and carried forward to a vote.
Mark Harris — Mark Harris is involved in the committee’s consideration of docket 16-0308-2501, first introducing the item and then moving to approve it; the discussion continues with references to his motion and second as the committee advances the docket.
Mark Harris — Mark Harris is involved in a single procedural sequence on the motion before the committee: the record first notes a second to Senator Van Orden’s motion, Harris clarifies that Senator Shippey made the second, then he explains that the item is a repeal and moves to approve the docket.
Carl Bjerke — Vice Chair Carl Bjerke (mis-transcribed in places as Senator Bjurkey/Birke) seconded the motion to approve the minutes and then welcomed the committee, marking the start of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee’s review of the rules.
Carl Bjerke — Carl Bjerke is thanked at the close of the meeting, with the speaker offering appreciation to Senator Burke/Berkey in a brief closing acknowledgment.
Julie VanOrden — The chair turns the meeting over to the vice chair.
Julie VanOrden — Senator Julie VanOrden moved to approve docket 16-0308-2502, and the subsequent references note that she also seconded the motion, all as part of the same docket approval action.
Julie VanOrden — Julie VanOrden acknowledged the Chair and then made a motion to approve docket 15-0101-2501, advancing the committee’s consideration of the item.
Jared Larson — Identified as Chief of Staff for the Department of Health and Welfare and invited to present.
Jared Larson — Provides an overview of the four dockets and explains the department's presentation plan.
Jared Larson — Explains the programs are created in federal statute and unlikely to go away.
Jared Larson — Responds to the prior question and is then asked a new question by Senator Blaylock.
Jared Larson — Responds that House Bill 135 addressed the issue and notes a prior typo error.
Kristen Matthews — Identified as a bureau chief from the Division of Self-Reliance who can answer technical questions about TANF and LIHEAP.
Kristen Matthews — Kristen Matthews is introduced as the person to explain eligibility and household-counting rules, then she identifies herself and explains how citizenship/eligibility is verified through the Homeland Security SAVE system. The discussion continues with follow-up references to her as senators ask related questions about whether legal non-citizens are included.
Glenneda Zuiderveld — Senator Zuiderveld begins a question about the future of grant and assistance programs, specifically asking whether TANF and LIHEAP could be dissolved or changed in the future.
Camille Blaylock — Introduces a question about the scope language in the rules.
Camille Blaylock — Asked whether the TANF household-member list means one or all of the listed categories.
Camille Blaylock — Senator Camille Blaylock was involved in the committee’s motion process: she seconded an earlier motion, was then called on by the chair, and subsequently moved to accept docket 16-0414-2501.
Brandon Shippy — Senator Brandon Shippy questioned the witness about eligibility requirements, first raising concerns about the residency language and the structure of the eligibility section, then asking how citizenship would be verified procedurally in the application process, and finally seeking clarification on whether the citizenship requirement would include non-citizens who are legally present.
Brandon Shippy — Corrected as the member who made the second.
Judy Taylor — Judy Taylor, Director of the Idaho Commission on Aging, was introduced and then identified herself, explaining that the Commission’s mission is to help older Idahoans remain in their homes.
Director Taylor — Director Taylor is briefly acknowledged as the committee clarifies a docket issue, then is told the committee is moving on to the next docket, and finally is thanked and bid farewell after the vote on the repeal docket.
Melissa Wintrow — Recorded as seconding the motion.