House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee
Key Moments
Barbara Ehardt — The chair called on Representative Ehardt after noting a hidden red light.
Barbara Ehardt — Raised a question and asked for the guest to comment on the bill.
Barbara Ehardt — Asked whether the bill arose because someone was injured due to lack of notice.
Barbara Ehardt — Asked whether people who previously lacked notice could be helped retroactively.
Barbara Ehardt — Asked which agency is excluded from the Office of Administrative Hearings' authority.
Barbara Ehardt — Guessed the excluded agency and thanked the witness.
Barbara Ehardt — Interjected in response to the remarks made during the bill explanation.
Dale Hawkins — Raises a question about the bill's language and street worship scenarios.
John Shirts — Representative Shirts asked whether the bill’s strikeout of terms like "vulgar, profane, and indecent" could unintentionally remove protections or coverage for obscene or sexually explicit conduct, including inappropriate sexual speech directed at a child, and noted concern that other statutes may already address such conduct.
John Shirts — Representative Shirts was called up to present House Bill 580 and introduced the bill, explaining it arose from a legislative review of Title 18. Committee members then raised concerns about intellectual property and piracy, and Shirts responded that the relevant provisions are largely preempted by federal statute and not being used. He was further pressed on whether protections exist elsewhere in law, and the exchange concluded with thanks after the committee vote on the bill.
Ilana Rubel — Likely the intended reference behind 'Representative Vihart' in the motion to introduce the RS, though the transcript is uncertain.
Joe Alfieri — Acknowledged as Vice Chair in the transition to the next bill.
Joe Alfieri — Representative Alfieri questioned whether repealing the statute could allow piracy of old films or tapes and expressed concern that eliminating the code might weaken intellectual property protections. In response, it was explained that the conduct he was worried about is already covered by federal statute, so serious cases would be handled elsewhere.
Brian Nichols — Brian Nichols of the Idaho Office of Administrative Hearings is introduced and then testifies as Chief Administrative Law Judge and Director. He explains that HB 520 is part of broader efforts to modernize Idaho’s Administrative Procedures Act, which is based on older model legislation, and notes that the Office of Administrative Hearings began conducting hearings on January 2, 2023. He also clarifies that the bill would apply prospectively only and would not operate retroactively, and mentions that water resources is the one agency specifically carved out from the office’s statutory authority.
Heather Scott — Moved to send House Bill 520 to the floor with a do pass recommendation.
Heather Scott — Representative Heather Scott was called up to present House Bill 581 and then introduced the bill herself, stating that she is from District 2 and that the measure before the committee is House Bill 581, which she said restores clarity to separation of powers in Idaho law.
Don Hall — Representative Monks is identified as the sponsor/presenter of House Bill 579 and explains that the bill is intended to simplify the lawful-defense language by replacing a list of protected persons with the broader phrase 'another person,' so the bill covers everyone.
Mike Pohanka — Moved to send House Bill 580 to the floor with a do pass recommendation.
Chris Mathias — Moves to approve the minutes.
Chris Mathias — Likely transcription error; the speaker is addressed as Representative Erickson, not Mathias.
Chris Mathias — A representative identified as Chris Mathias/"Representative Bruce" is introduced as the presenter of House Bill 520, with the transcript showing some name-recognition uncertainty but clearly indicating the same member speaking in the bill presentation.
Ted Hill — Moves to introduce RS 33067.
Marco Erickson — Representative Marco Erickson is recognized to speak on the motion and asks why the draft bill was changed to include neurocognitive disorders.
Marco Erickson — Representative Marco Erickson is referenced and then directly speaks to make a motion to send House Bill 581 to the floor with a due pass recommendation; the motion is then referenced again during committee consideration.
Bruce Skaug — Bruce Skaug is identified as the presenter of RS 33197 and then introduces the bill, which concerns disturbances of religious worship services. He is subsequently addressed during discussion of the bill and responds to a question by stating that the issue is already covered by other statutes.
Barbara Ehardt — Likely the intended member referenced as 'Representative E. Hart' in the exchange.