Treasure Valley woman photographer — Skaug describes a photographer who declined to photograph an event because of her Christian conscience.
Joel Fisher — Joel Fisher of the Idaho Family Policy Center was introduced to testify on the bill’s legal aspects, identified himself as Director of Public Policy, delivered his prepared remarks, and then remained available for questions. The discussion then turned to his uniformity argument and the related Howland reference, with his earlier legal reasoning being challenged and clarified during questioning.
Mr. Fisher — Mr. Fisher explains that House Bill 557 is intended to create uniformity, which he says helps the market and makes it easier for businesses—especially small businesses—to operate by reducing conflicting local ordinances. He cites legal literature and Idaho-specific examples to support that argument. He then answers a question about whether a symbolic city resolution against DEI would be affected, clarifying that the bill applies to local ordinances, resolutions, policies, regulations, or decrees that implement anti-discrimination practices and that a city resolution extending beyond state law would be preempted.
Josh Wheeler — Representative Wheeler asks whether a city’s symbolic resolution opposing DEI would violate or be preempted by House Bill 557, and the chair/response begins addressing his question.
Josh Wheeler — Referenced as having asked about a city resolution pertaining to DEI.
Josh Wheeler — Recorded as voting yes in the roll call; name appears twice in the transcript.
Richard Cheatum — Representative Birch first asks to respond to a prior statement, is asked to reframe the point as a question, and then raises the substantive issue that the Legislature can both restrict and grant powers to local governments. The exchange concludes with a response acknowledging that point while noting no bill immediately comes to mind that has passed in that direction.
Richard Cheatum — Representative Cheatum explains that he will vote against the bill/motion because of preemption concerns, citing Pocatello’s local ordinance as an example of local control working without problems. Other speakers reference his comments on local control, and the sequence concludes with his recorded no vote in the roll call.
Elaine Price — Asks whether other states have passed the legislation and what impact it has had.
Elaine Price — Elaine Price asks how federal housing regulations apply to Idaho and whether they help address concerns about housing discrimination. After being asked to restate her question, she clarifies that she is asking whether federal housing rules would apply in Idaho for people concerned about housing issues. A brief acknowledgment of her question follows.
Elaine Price — Recorded as voting yes in the roll call.
Greg Baylor — Greg Baylor is introduced and then testifies online as an attorney with Alliance Defending Freedom in support of House Bill 557. He argues that local gender-identity nondiscrimination ordinances can undermine privacy, safety, fairness in sports, and conscience rights by being interpreted to allow access to sex-separated spaces, require gender-affirming care, compel pronoun use, and force speech contrary to beliefs. He says HB 557 would protect religious freedom, restore statewide legal consistency, and address what he views as overly narrow religious exemptions in some local ordinances. In the question-and-answer portion, he explains that the Fair Housing Act and Title VII are the main federal nondiscrimination laws, that right-to-work status does not affect nondiscrimination law, that state protections do not cover every context so local ordinances fill gaps in employment, education, and public accommodations, and that similar laws exist in states such as Arkansas, Tennessee, and Texas.
Lucas Cayler — Representative Lucas Cayler asks Mr. Baylor a question and follows up by noting that Idaho is a right-to-work state, then asks whether the employment argument is even applicable in that context.
Lucas Cayler — Asks Ms. Muncaster to identify the constitutional violation posed by the law.
Lucas Cayler — Representative Kaler asks for historical examples, within the last 20 years, of LGBTQ residents in Boise being negatively impacted before anti-discrimination laws were enacted, and then clarifies that he is specifically seeking an example of discrimination before Boise's ordinances were put into place.
Marco Erickson — Likely intended reference to Representative Skaug, though the transcript says 'Skog.'
Marco Erickson — Recorded as voting yes in the roll call.
Mr. Baylor — Answered questions about state laws preempting local nondiscrimination ordinances and noted many similar state preemption laws exist in Idaho and elsewhere.
Don Knapp — Identified as the next witness to be called to testify.
Donald Knapp — Donald Knapp, former owner of the Hitching Post Wedding Chapel and a minister, testified in support of House Bill 557, saying the ordinance and related demands unfairly targeted his business because of its religious beliefs. He described being told the business would have to perform same-sex weddings and facing severe penalties, including daily fines and jail time, which caused sleepless nights and fear of losing the business and income. He said Alliance Defending Freedom provided counsel, attorneys filed suit, and the Hitching Post was briefly closed before reopening while the matter worked through the courts. He also noted that the business had been part of Coeur d'Alene since 1919 and that calls demanding same-sex weddings had been received.
Mr. Knapp — Mr. Knapp indicates he is willing to take questions, then begins responding before being interrupted by the timer and thanking the chair.
Joe Alfieri — Representative Alfieri was recognized after the chair noted there were no further questions, and he immediately began by thanking Chairman Ehardt and Mr. Knapp for their testimony.
Joe Alfieri — Representative Joe Alfieri was recorded as voting yes in the roll call.
Mayor Jeremy Grimm — The chair introduces Mayor Jeremy Grimm as the next speaker and immediately corrects the spelling of his surname from Grime to Grimm.
Jeremy Grimm — Mayor Jeremy Grimm testifies in support of House Bill 557, explaining that as mayor of Sandpoint he saw how a small city lacks the staff and legal capacity to manage complex nondiscrimination disputes. He describes Sandpoint’s local ordinance, a controversy involving the YMCA locker room, and how the city was pushed into an inappropriate adjudicative role, leading him to cast the deciding vote to repeal the ordinance. Grimm argues that the repeal was about restoring clarity, consistency, and legal defensibility rather than reducing protections, and says statewide standards would be preferable if the state clearly defined local powers and legal authority. He concludes that small municipalities cannot afford to be test cases and reiterates his support for House Bill 557.
Jennifer Hook — Jennifer Hook is introduced as the affected witness, confirms her presence, and then testifies in support of House Bill 557. She explains that while working as a lifeguard at the YMCA in Sandpoint she encountered a man in the women’s locker room, describes the community’s reaction and the role of city ordinance and company policy, and says the incident caused her significant trauma and recurring PTSD. She further connects the experience to a past sexual assault, arguing that privacy and safety concerns are why she opposes men in women’s private spaces. She concludes her testimony and is thanked by the committee.
Jonathan Wheatley — Jonathan Wheatley is identified as the likely representative for the Association of Idaho Cities, then introduces himself as the deputy director and testifies in opposition to House Bill 557, specifically its preemption aspects. He concludes by urging a no vote on the bill and offering to answer questions.
Sue Muncaster — Sue Muncaster, representing the City of Victor as a city councilperson, testifies in opposition to the bill/ordinance. She says it would strip local control and weaken anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people, arguing that it is un-American, unconstitutional, and unchristian. She adds that, while not a constitutional lawyer, she believes the measure imposes Christian values on LGBTQ individuals. A follow-up question challenges her constitutional claim.
Misty Tolman — Named as the next person to be called after Sue Muncaster.
Misty Tolman — Misty Tolman is introduced and prompted to respond to questions from the committee. The chair directs her to answer, and Tolman explains that non-discrimination ordinances regulate conduct rather than religious beliefs, noting that religious beliefs are protected under the Idaho Human Rights Act.
Clint Hostetler — Representative Clint Hostetler is referenced throughout a procedural exchange centered on his earlier question. A witness asks to answer Hostetler’s question, the chair notes that the question would need to be asked again, and subsequent remarks continue to refer to Hostetler as the member being addressed in the follow-up discussion.
Misty Deli Carpinny Tolman — Misty Tolman introduces herself as the regional political and Idaho State Director for Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates and opposes House Bill 557.
Ms. Tolman — Continued answering questions by contrasting the restaurant scenario with the earlier conscience question.
Kathy Gressmeyer — Kathy Gressmeyer, representing the City of Boise, testified in opposition to House Bill 557 and then responded to questions about why Boise adopted its non-discrimination ordinance. She explained that before the ordinance, LGBTQ residents feared reporting crimes because public police reports could expose them to employers or landlords, risking employment and housing. She said reports from LGBTQ residents increased after the ordinance, which she described as creating a greater sense of safety and trust. In response to questions about public safety, she said the ordinance improved relationships between the impacted community and police and noted that Boise has an LGBTQ liaison to help build trust and ensure people can report crimes without jeopardizing their livelihoods or housing.
Mitchell William — The chair announces one more witness, identified as Mitchell William from a legal voice nonprofit.
William Mitchell — William Mitchell, a Nampa resident in Legislative District 12, testifies against the bill and urges a no vote. He focuses on the bill’s preemption provisions, explaining his objection to the doctrine of preemption as used in the legislation. He also responds to a cited article by Pam Halland, saying it was mischaracterized and noting that Halland objected during the hearing to how her work was described. The chair then thanks him and closes his testimony.
Steve Berch — The chair appears to address Representative Berch when asking for the last comment to be repeated.
Steve Berch — Representative Steve Berch speaks in opposition to the motion/bill, arguing that local officials are accountable to their constituents and that local government should remain closest to the people rather than being preempted by the legislature. He concludes by stating he will vote against the bill, and the record reflects his no vote.
David Callan — David Callan is called from the audience to testify, introduces himself as a Meridian resident and native Idahoan, and states his strong support for H.B. 557. After his testimony, he responds to a question by saying he is not aware of the discrimination examples raised and reiterates his view that both sides should be able to say yes or no without government interference in order to achieve the needed results.
Mr. Callan / David Callan — The question is repeated to Callan, asking whether he is aware of discrimination in employment and housing.
Tom Wheeler — Tom Wheeler introduces himself as a real estate team owner, business owner, and soon-to-be Boise State MBA graduate, then states that he represents Idaho's number one LGBT-owned real estate team and strongly opposes H.B. 557.
Craig Campbell — Introduces himself as precinct committeeman for 2009 in Ada County and says he supports the bill.
Mr. Campbell — Mr. Campbell continued and then concluded his testimony in support of the bill, arguing that local governments should not adopt rules that subordinate one person's rights to another's. The committee had no questions and thanked him for his testimony.
April Hoy — April Hoy was called to testify and then stated that she opposes the bill. She argued that claims of protecting women are being used to justify harm against marginalized communities, and said that non-discrimination protections do not make her less safe. She concluded that revoking non-discrimination ordinances harms all women by encouraging gender policing and barriers to access to gender-based services.
Sarah LaWall — Called to testify next.
Reverend Sarah LaWall — Reverend Sarah LaWall testified on her own behalf and on behalf of her faith and interfaith communities in opposition to the bill. She said the measure would strip local protections for LGBTQ+ people, amount to government-sanctioned discrimination, and increase danger for queer and trans people. She made the issue personal by describing how her transgender daughter was threatened at Boise Public High School, and she concluded by urging lawmakers to vote no.
Ashley Majute / Ashley Majugi (questionable) — Committee attempts to identify the next virtual witness; spelling is uncertain.
Ashley (questionable surname pending) — Committee attempts to connect with Ashley virtually.
Ashley Muyaoogich (questionable spelling) — Committee and witness work through audio issues and pronunciation of her last name.
Ashley Muyaogich — Ashley Muyaogich, a precinct committeeman in District 21 and Ada County Republican Youth Chair, testified in support of the bill. She said local business owners can face serious conflict and legal trouble when asked to provide services that conflict with their religious convictions, and argued that H.B. 557 would protect Idaho business owners from compelled expression claims and malicious lawsuits. She concluded by asking for the committee’s support, after which she was thanked.