Mark Sauter — Mark Sauter presents House Bill 569, thanking the chair and attendees before explaining that the bill expands water skiing opportunities on public bodies of water. He provides background on existing regulations, notes that the proposal was requested by constituents and would align Idaho with other states, and explains that it expands the driver-skier option in certain situations. He also outlines the bill’s safety-related limits, including seasonal and time-of-day restrictions, and concludes his presentation by yielding for questions. A later brief mention references him carrying the bill on the floor.
Dori Healey — Dr. Kaiser is asked to comment on the Ponderay project and broader water-storage issues. She responds that the project is exciting and potentially relevant beyond Ponderay, then explains that the research should first determine how much water is available before addressing storage questions, which ties into the Bureau of Reclamation basin study.
Charlie Shepherd — Representative Shepherd suggests water storage as an idea to consider and notes that Senator Cook has also focused on it, framing water storage as a serious topic for the discussion.
Charlie Shepherd — Charlie Shepherd asks Director Weaver for an expert opinion on Hells Canyon water releases, focusing on whether changing the timing of those releases would affect the department and related stakeholders.
Charlie Shepherd — Vice Chairman Charlie Shepherd moved to send House Bill 569 to the floor with a due pass/do-pass recommendation, and the committee then recognized that motion as pending before it.
Steve Miller — Asked to receive the slides and requested the project application list and selection list.
Steve Miller — Asked how to access project results and whether they would be posted online.
Steve Miller — Clarified he was not seeking a board appointment and was asking about how the board is formed.
Steve Miller — Representative Steve Miller asked why the bill did not include a specific daily water limit for domestic use, and the follow-up remark referenced that same question in the context of the previous bill.
Steve Miller — Paul Arrington responded to Representative Miller's earlier question about changing the 13,000-gallon daily limit.
Dr. Kaiser — Dr. Kaiser said the committee would provide the requested slides and a summary report of submitted and selected projects, and noted that project outcomes would be publicly available through detailed technical reports, short fact sheets, citable data products, and other materials already stored in the folder/OneDrive. He then explained the makeup and formation of the 32-member Research Advisory Committee, saying members were chosen for technical expertise and connections to regional stakeholder groups, with representation across the state. He added that he and his assistant director developed the committee structure with regional partners, the executive board reviewed and provided feedback, the committee will have staggered terms of about two to three years, and he welcomed suggestions for additional members, emphasizing that the process is complex but worthwhile.
Britt Raybould — Britt Raybould asked how the 32-member board is selected, who chooses its members, and whether the governor appoints the board or a committee forms it, seeking clarification on how the board and its executive structure are constituted.
Britt Raybould — Made the motion to send Senate Joint Memorial 108 to the floor with a do pass recommendation.
Aaron Wharton — Identified as being from NRCS and studying snowpack.
Matt Weaver — Matt Weaver, director of the Department of Water Resources, introduced himself and praised IWRI’s recent revitalization under Dr. Kaiser. He explained that the agency’s relationship with IWRI had previously deteriorated, leading them to rely on other entities for neutral third-party support on major projects. Weaver emphasized that IWRI is now valuable again for its applied science, technical expertise, and especially its role as a neutral party in controversial regulatory and water management matters.
Kendra — Referenced as having highlighted recent projects.
Director Weaver — Director Weaver declines to answer the question, saying he will plead the fifth and that he came unprepared to address it. He indicates he will follow up offline and notes that electricity/power is also part of the issue.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Representative Stephanie Mickelsen asks that Representative Manwaring’s House Bill 567 be taken up, noting it concerns the Department of Water Resources and that she has reviewed it closely and believes it can be handled quickly. After a brief misattributed reference to her in the transcript, she later withdraws her objection, allowing the committee to move on.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Commented that Idaho water users supported the bill and moved to send Senate Bill 1222 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Raised a point of clarification and indicated Paul Arrington could help clarify the issue.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Asked whether a subdivision diversion point requires a measurement device under current water laws.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Was addressed by the director while asking the question.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Identified as making the motion to send Senate Bill 1222 to the floor.
Dustin Manwaring — Representative Dustin Manwaring is referenced in connection with his bill, House Bill 567, which deals with the Department of Water Resources. The discussion suggests the bill may be handled immediately, and the exchange ends with a request for Manwaring to meet in the hall, with his name briefly mispronounced as "Manmore."
written testimony witness (name not captured) — The committee notes that the registered witness did not appear in person and instead submitted written testimony.
Douglas Pickett — Douglas Pickett presented Senate Bill 1222 as a follow-up to last year’s domestic water exemption legislation, explaining that the prior law addressed domestic water rights and that this bill clarifies implementation issues raised after rollout. He described key changes, including defining a subdivision as a development with five lots and making the amendments forward-looking beginning July 1, 2025. In the ensuing questions, he clarified that the bill does not change water allocations but instead distinguishes household use from outside use, with the goal of limiting outside use—especially in critical groundwater areas—without requiring separate gallon limits or expensive metering. He also noted that the bill retains last year’s language and discussed how domestic water use could still theoretically exceed annual limits under certain conditions.
Douglas Pickett — The chair indicated there were no further questions for Representative Pickett before moving to a vote.
Eric Wyseth — Eric Wyseth answered committee questions by clarifying that the proposal does not increase total water volume, only changes when water is released so it goes downstream during daytime hours. He then identified the referenced film as 'the 3100,' a YouTube series with multiple episodes covering several river sections, including the Main Salmon and the Selway, and explained that it highlights the place, its cinematography, and the guides working there.
Unidentified committee member — Commented that the water year is disastrous and that conditions are ultimately beyond human control.
Dr. Kendra Kaiser — Introduced as the next presenter, though the speaker later identifies herself differently.
Kendrick Heiser — Kendrick Heiser introduced herself as the director of the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute and a faculty member at the University of Idaho, then described IWRI’s mission and thanked the committee for appropriations support. She went on to outline the institute’s recent work, including identifying statewide research priorities through a 32-member research advisory committee and describing its executive board and funding distributed to university faculty.
Mark Sauter — Representative Sauter discusses Lake Ponderay as a major issue in District 1 and cites an economic impact report showing that the current way the lake is managed costs the community about $25 million per year. He also notes that IWRI is studying alternative lake operations.
John Woude — Rep. Van der Woude asked for clarification on the bill’s treatment of domestic water use versus outside irrigation use, questioning whether defining use makes a gallon limit unnecessary, whether in-home use is subtracted from outside use, and how such distinctions would be monitored and enforced. The discussion centered on how household use compares to the domestic water-right limit and how the bill would practically track and regulate those uses.
Paul Arrington — The committee first tried to reach Paul Arrington by phone/virtually after noting he was out of town and unable to testify in person. After a few technical difficulties, he joined the hearing, identified himself as being with the Idaho Water Users Association, and testified in favor of Senate Bill 1222. He referenced the stakeholder work group process behind the bill and discussed the 13,000-gallon-per-day limit and how it is measured. The exchange concluded with the committee thanking him for his testimony.
Judy Boyle — Representative Judy Boyle was introduced as the presenter for Senate Joint Memorial 108, then explained the memorial’s purpose concerning livestock producers and depredation claims. After the presentation, the chair asked her to return to her seat before the vote and noted that she would carry the memorial on the floor.
Jerald Raymond — Senator Lakey is identified as a sponsor on the memorial, with the speaker explaining that this is why Lakey is included as a sponsor.
Eric Wyseth — Eric Wyseth introduces himself as the executive director of the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association and begins his presentation, adding background about his role and connection to the outfitting and guiding industry.