Jared Stewart — Explained the Idaho State Department of Agriculture's third-party inspection work and export-market services.
Jared Stewart — Described the scale of inspections and explained phytosanitary export certification.
Jared Stewart — Explained how shipments are certified and introduced stone fruit as the commodity under discussion.
Jared Stewart — Explained the scope of the stone fruit rule and noted it was handled through negotiated rulemaking.
Jared Stewart — Summarized the rule changes: removal of obsolete language, clarification, and elimination of duplicative defect/damage language.
Jared Stewart — His presentation concluded without questions.
Jared Stewart — Began presenting the next docket on bulk permits and retail sale of potatoes.
Jared Stewart — Explained that the bulk permits and retail sale of potatoes rule is part of the fresh fruits and vegetables side, applies similar background as the stone fruit rule, and is a shorter ZBR rule found on page 19.
Jared Stewart — Described negotiated rulemaking dates, updated the federal marketing order citation, and explained changes related to Russet Burbank potatoes and sizing/grades.
Jared Stewart — Closed the potato rule presentation and invited questions before the committee moved to the next docket.
Jared Stewart — The committee addressed Mr. Stewart before moving to the next docket.
Jared Stewart — Introduced the weights and measures rule docket and began background on the program.
Jared Stewart — Explained that the program inspects commercial devices such as scales and gas pumps, noted staffing levels, and described the program’s personnel structure.
Jared Stewart — Compared historical staffing and inspection volumes, noting 38,000 devices inspected in 2025, a 6% rejection rate, and 66% rechecked.
Jared Stewart — Explained the reinspection process for rejected devices and contrasted current workload with 1979 inspection numbers.
Jared Stewart — Described additional program duties, including consumer complaints and calibration tests, and identified the rule as a ZBR rule on page 24.
Jared Stewart — Explained that the rule updates the incorporation-by-reference citation and removes duplicative handbook language.
Jared Stewart — Explained the purpose of removing duplicative language so the rule and handbook stay aligned and concise.
Jared Stewart — Explained that definitions were removed because they already exist in statute and that this is common in ZBR rules.
Jared Stewart — Was thanked and dismissed after the weights and measures rule discussion.
Jared Stewart — Jared Stewart was introduced as the presenter for the organic food products rules.
Jared Stewart — Jared Stewart introduced himself and identified his role with the Idaho State Department of Agriculture.
Ron Taylor — Ron Taylor made a lighthearted comment before asking where the definitions removed from the document had gone and whether they were included in the handbook. The exchange ended with a brief acknowledgment thanking Senator Taylor for his question.
Brian Slebaugh — Brian Slebaugh, administrator for the Division of Agricultural Resources, introduced the pesticide and chemigation rule docket and provided background on the program, explaining that it originated in 1976 to establish licensing, labeling, handling, use, and disposal standards for pesticides. He then described the agency’s negotiated rulemaking process, which was used to address stakeholder priorities and reduce administrative burden, and outlined the proposed updates, including changes to license terms and categories, longer sunset provisions for commercial applicators, and new categories for drone applications.
Mr. Stewart — The chair asked for questions to Mr. Stewart after his presentation.
Christy Zito — Christy Zito is introduced as the vice chair taking over the meeting, then appears presiding over the session and opening the rules portion by thanking attendees and introducing docket number 0205-2501 on rules governing stone fruit grades.
Christy Zito — Vice Chair Zito was thanked for helping the group go over the rules today.
Rachel — Invited to the podium to introduce the visitors.
Rachel Bickerton — Rachel Bickerton introduced herself as the Director of Government and External Relations for the University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and explained that she was presenting the 24th University of Idaho agricultural economics public policy and legislative tour, sponsored by Idaho food producers and other agricultural industry members. She then introduced the student participants in the tour group, naming several students and noting details such as their hometowns, class years, majors, and that Camille Merkin had served as a Senate page in 2023.
Mr. Jared Stewart — Introduced as the administrator who would present the stone fruit grades rule.
Jared Stewart — Introduced himself and identified his division at the Idaho State Department of Agriculture.
Jared Stewart — Presented docket 02025-2501 and began explaining the agricultural inspection service.
Tammy Nichols — Senator Tammy Nichols opened the meeting by identifying herself as the chair from District 10, noting that the committee would be hearing rules, welcoming visitors and thanking them for attending, and then turning the gavel over to Vice Chair Zito so the committee could proceed.
Tammy Nichols — The chair is addressed and then formally handed the gavel back as the meeting moves on and wraps up this portion of the proceedings.