Jim Guthrie — Referenced for quoting the Pledge of Allegiance and as part of the discussion about unity and ideas in America.
Jim Guthrie — Explains that representatives promised a letter addressing the issue but did not provide it by the morning meeting.
Jim Guthrie — Addressed as chair during the exchange.
Jim Guthrie — Addressed as chair while clarification was requested.
Jim Guthrie — Addressed during the exchange.
Jim Guthrie — Invited a response and was addressed in the exchange.
Jim Guthrie — Addressed during the response.
Jim Guthrie — Addressed as chair.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Stephanie Mickelsen was mentioned in connection with the bill’s origins and support: the speaker noted that attending an energy conference with her helped inspire the bill, and later reported that Idaho Power had been consulted and was comfortable with the proposal.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Stephanie Mickelsen asks how the Basque community views the issue, specifically referencing the historical regime they lived under and the restrictions they experienced, and how that history shapes their perspective on the current matter.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Was addressed by name in connection with questions about the civil penalty and attorney's fees provisions.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Representative Mickelsen argues that the bill could unnecessarily restrict cities from using flags to bring communities together and promote local events. She suggests that if the real concern is the pride flag, the bill should explicitly say so, and warns that the measure could create collateral damage by preventing communities from advertising or celebrating events such as the Basque Festival or rodeo festival.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Makes an amended substitute motion to move the bill to general orders.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Thanked after speaking against passing the bill in its current form.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Referenced for prior comments about community flags and events.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Referenced as the alternative person to answer the question.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Representative Stephanie Mickelsen is identified as the sponsor of the amended substitute motion to send House Bill 561 to general orders, and then her votes are recorded on the related motions: yes on the amended substitute motion, no on the substitute motion, and yes on the original motion.
Shawn Dygert — Addressed by the speaker regarding the liability language.
Shawn Dygert — Moved to introduce RS 33210 C1.
Shawn Dygert — Representative Shawn Dygert participates in a series of roll-call votes, voting no on the substitute/amended substitute motion and later voting yes on the original motion.
Joe Palmer — Representative Joe Palmer questioned the need for the legislation and whether the generators could already be used legally, then followed up by asking if buying one at Costco and using it at home would violate the law.
Joe Palmer — Representative Joe Palmer is recorded during a roll-call vote sequence, voting no on the amended substitute motion, no on the substitute motion, and yes on the original motion.
Judy Boyle — Judy Boyle asked for the exact rule and numbers so the committee could look them up, then argued that if a rule is the only thing preventing use of the product, the committee should eliminate the rule instead of passing a new law.
Judy Boyle — Representative Judy Boyle’s votes are recorded across a sequence of related motions: she votes no on the amended substitute motion, no on the substitute motion, and yes on the original motion.
Ted Hill — Ted Hill, representing District 14 (Eagle and Emmett), opens testimony on HB 561 and explains that the bill is intended to respond to a local mayor who refused to follow a law passed the previous year, framing the issue as one involving the American flag in the government sphere.
Gloria Totorica Guena — Gloria Totorica Guena testifies as a native Idahoan of Basque heritage and a scholar of Basque studies. She says she is correcting factual inaccuracies from prior testimony, explaining that the Basque Country is an official autonomous community in Spain with a long history of representative government. She defends the Basque flag as a longstanding community symbol that was once outlawed under dictatorship and says it represents identity, unity, and shared heritage. In response to committee questions, she argues that decisions about displaying flags should be made locally by city councils and mayors, who should represent their communities and determine appropriate flag policy for special days or holidays.
James Holtzclaw — Mentioned as having been to the Basque Country and seen many Basque flags there.
James Holtzclaw — During the roll call, Representative James Holtzclaw is called multiple times; one call records him voting no on the substitute motion, while the surrounding calls do not clearly capture a vote in the transcript lines provided.
Heather Scott — Mentioned as having attended events at the Basque Center with the witness.
Heather Scott — Representative Scott is introduced as having a question and then asks the witness whether the church teaches obeying the law even when one disagrees with it.
Heather Scott — Begins a question asking whether the mayor would break a law if she disagreed with it.
Heather Scott — Was directly addressed in the apology after taking offense at the witness's remarks.
Heather Scott — Addresses the witness and asks whether she has asked the city to raise a flag she supports.
Heather Scott — Addressed as Representative Scott during the witness's response.
Heather Scott — The transcript appears to misrender the chair's name as 'Chairman Cray'; context indicates the chair is being addressed.
Heather Scott — Asks Charles Beale about Christian interpretations of the rainbow symbol and whether that was considered when the flag was created.
Heather Scott — Speaks in favor of the motion and argues the bill is about government, not private citizens.
Heather Scott — Representative Heather Scott is recorded voting no on the amended substitute motion, no on the substitute motion, and yes on the original motion.
Reverend Josh Lee — Reverend Josh Lee is called to testify and then delivers a continuous statement explaining that, as a pastor at Boise First United Church of Christ, he sees the pride flag as a symbol of welcome, safety, love, and acceptance rather than a political statement. He describes the Boise city hall discussion about allowing the flag to fly and argues that, until LGBTQ people have equal rights and protections, the city should continue to fly it. He also says the church should serve as the conscience of the state, citing the civil rights movement as an example of the church opposing unjust laws. The chair then thanks him and closes his testimony.
Kendall Schaber — Kendall Schaber testifies in support of local community expression and against the bill. After correcting the chair’s misnaming, she introduces herself as a Boise resident with deep Idaho roots and explains that flags symbolize belonging and pride in different communities. She argues that local government is closest to the people and most accountable, says the sponsor misrepresented the mayor’s actions in prior hearings, and notes that Boise’s city council voted 5-1 to support flying the pride flag. She concludes that Boise is an inclusive community and that small Idaho towns should be able to use limited public spaces to express their identity and values, whether through flags or other displays, without state interference, calling H561 bad government.
Janelle Winterstein — Janelle Winterstein is called as a witness and then testifies in opposition to the bill. She introduces herself and explains that, despite previously favoring fewer laws, the proposed $2,000-per-day fine for displaying a non-American flag has changed her view. She argues that the measure adds to excessive regulation, compares it to federal interference, and says the issue is not anti-gay because she is lesbian herself. She concludes that the bill is tyrannical and should be seen as a matter of local decision-making rather than state control over what flags towns or individuals choose to fly.
Kendall — Kendall finishes testimony by opposing H561 and arguing it is overreaching.
Misty Tolman — Misty Tolman is listed as the next witness after Janelle Winterstein.
Misty Delacar Carapini Tolman — The chair calls Misty Delacar Carapini Tolman as the next witness.
Misty Deli Carpini Tolman — Misty Deli Carpini Tolman, regional political and state director for Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates Idaho, testifies in opposition to HB 561. She urges lawmakers to vote no, framing the bill as harmful to LGBTQ+ visibility, local governments, and free expression, and concludes her remarks with the same request for a no vote.
Mark Harris — Representative Skaug questions the mayor about how many official Boise City flags exist, asks her to identify them, and then focuses on the Pride flag—asking what it symbolizes and repeatedly pressing for the meanings of the letters in LGBTQ+, the plus sign, and the term "trans."
Mark Harris — Referenced indirectly as 'Representative Hill' in the transcript; likely a transcription error, but not corrected due to uncertainty.
Mayor McLean — The chair welcomes Mayor McLean to testify next.
Mayor McLean — Mayor McLean defends Boise’s use of the flag as an expression of the city’s values and its identity as a safe, welcoming place for all residents. She says the flag does not take away rights or recognition from others, that welcoming marginalized groups is not a zero-sum game, and that she was elected to represent Boise’s values rather than direct other cities. She also notes her own Catholic background, references community pride and sports examples, and warns that the bill could create collateral consequences for commemorative, school, sports, and sister-city flag displays. Overall, she asks the committee to hold the bill and emphasizes that recognizing one group does not diminish anyone else.
Lauren McLean — Mayor Lauren McLean testifies in opposition to HB 561, saying Boise has complied with prior law changes and that the bill is aimed at punishing the city for flying the Pride flag. She emphasizes that Boise is committed to being safe and welcoming for everyone, including LGBTQ residents, and asks the committee to respect the city’s autonomy and hold the bill. In response to questions, she explains that Boise has three official city flags, notes that the Pride flag has been flown for over a decade as a symbol of welcome and city values, clarifies the meaning of LGBTQ, and begins addressing how the issue affects major employers in Boise.