House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee
Key Moments
Joe Alfieri — Mike Moyle introduces RS-3301 C1 and explains it concerns applying American laws in Idaho courts.
Joe Alfieri — Acknowledged as the chair taking over after the vote.
Ted Hill — Representative Hill is recognized and makes a motion.
Barbara Ehardt — Representative Ehardt asks for time to read the bill because she did not have access to it.
Barbara Ehardt — Barbara Ehardt said she was fine sending the bill forward, but wanted answers at the hearing about what happens if someone cannot pay, who would pay, and when payment would be due. She then clarified that her remark was a comment, not a question.
Barbara Ehardt — Representative Ehardt explains the rationale behind the five-year gap in the legislation, referring to prior policy discussions and concerns about school-age dating scenarios and statutory rape, and notes that she was involved in the earlier version of the bill two years ago.
Dan Garner — Representative Garner moves to introduce RS-33202.
Dan Garner — Complimented Representative Bingham on the presentation.
Dan Garner — Referenced as the legislator who asked for testimony on the five-year age requirement.
Tanya Berguyen — Tanya Berguyen introduced RS 33047 and explained that it is intended to clarify who is responsible for paying psychosexual evaluation fees. In follow-up remarks, she said the language is being clarified, noted she was not certain who currently pays and thought it might be the state, and added that she did not yet have the requested background information but would provide it at the full hearing.
Clay Handy — Asked what the current payment arrangement is for psychosexual evaluations.
Clay Handy — Indicated he had questions, though he said they were only loosely related to the bill.
Clay Handy — Asked about the opportunity for a male to have his record expunged under Idaho's Romeo and Juliet/statutory rape laws.
Clay Handy — His question about expungement was addressed as outside the bill's scope.
Clay Handy — Moved to send House Bill 541 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
Chris Mathias — Chris Mathias questioned the bill, saying it appears to reduce judicial discretion, and asked what prompted the legislation—whether it was triggered by a specific incident or by a broader trend of events.
Chris Mathias — Representative Mathias is called on and asks Representative Tanner why the bill uses a five-year age-gap threshold. The question is then acknowledged and answered as part of the same discussion.
Bruce Skaug — Moved to introduce RS 33047.
Representative Bingham — Introduced himself as representing District 32 and presented House Bill 540.
John Shirts — Moved to send House Bill 540 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
John Gannon — Said he had no questions for Representative Bingham.
Steve Tanner — Identified himself as representing District 13 and began introducing House Bill 541.
Mr. Jeff Nye — Tanner said Jeff Nye from the Criminal Law Division in ICAC was signed up to testify.
Mr. Nye — Was signed up to testify but fell ill and was replaced by a substitute.
Phil Skinner — Identified as being present from the Attorney General’s office.
Nick Edwards — Identified as the commander of ICAC and present to help answer questions.
Nick Edwards — Identified as the ICAC commander who compiled the statistics.
Jacob Haas — Initially asked about as the person from the Attorney General’s office.
James Haas — James Haas is introduced as the next witness and identified as neutral. He then testifies as a Deputy Attorney General and full-time ICAC prosecutor, explaining that his office is neutral and that he is there to address the five-year age requirement. He argues that Romeo and Juliet laws reflect a common policy approach across jurisdictions and that the five-year threshold is consistent with similar statutes. He concludes by citing statistics to support the need to increase the protected age range.
Mr. Haas — Mr. Haas was asked about whether a person could have a record expunged under Idaho's Romeo and Juliet/statutory rape laws. He explained that expungement is ultimately a matter of judicial discretion and depends on the court's decision on motion.
Neil Urig — Neil Urig was introduced as the next virtual witness, then appeared to identify himself and testify on behalf of the Idaho Fraternal Order of Police from Post Falls, Idaho in support of the bill. The chair later thanked him for calling in remotely and noted there were no questions.