Josh Wheeler — Voted yes on the substitute motion.
Josh Wheeler — Voted no on the original motion.
Josh Wheeler — Recognized pediatricians and pediatric residents in the audience, welcomed them to the committee, and noted he may turn the meeting over to the vice chair due to a 10:30 appointment.
Josh Wheeler — Turned the meeting over to the vice chair.
Josh Wheeler — Wheeler is thanked after making the motion to advance RS-33-250.
Julie VanOrden — The transcript appears to misstate the chair's name when the gavel is turned over.
Julie VanOrden — The chair was repeatedly addressed during a continuous procedural exchange about continuing questions while a virtual connection issue was being resolved. Permission was requested and granted to ask another question, then another question was raised, with the chair noting it might not be germane to the bill, and the exchange ended with a request for one more quick question.
Ben Fuhriman — Representative Fuhriman questions Representative Bruce about the bill’s lack of clarity regarding how blood would be collected and sourced. He raises concerns about liability, the possibility of a patient bringing in blood from an unknown source, and how a doctor could ethically or safely proceed without knowing where the blood came from or how it was extracted. He emphasizes that the bill does not specify that the blood must be collected by the donor or individual, and says he cannot find language in the bill addressing that point.
Ben Fuhriman — His question is referenced by another member during the exchange.
Jordan Redman — Josh Wheeler expressed concern that the bill does not clearly explain how blood would be obtained, stored, and tested, warning that vague reliance on federal guidelines could leave doctors with too much responsibility and discourage participation. He also joked about the possibility of unregulated 'blood banks' appearing, then concluded by saying he would vote for the bill in committee while noting that this does not guarantee support on the floor.
Jordan Redman — Referenced in a joking exchange about who should ask next.
Jordan Redman — Asked whether storing blood for oneself could help relieve pressure on the national supply.
Jordan Redman — Representative Redmond expressed support for the bill and the original motion, saying he would prefer sending it to general orders rather than risk the bill failing. He then voted no on the substitute motion and yes on the original motion.
Jordan Redman — Representative Jordan Redmond first moves to approve docket 15-230-230-2-201, then introduces himself as representing District 3 and presents House Bill 550. He later asks that House Bill 550 be held and that RS 3-3-250 be advanced to the second reading calendar with a due pass recommendation, indicating a related procedural discussion on the bill and associated measure.
Jordan Redman — Representative Redmond was discussed as having worked with Chu and others on bill language, with Chu thanking him for incorporating their comments and reaching consensus. Redmond then closed by asking that HB 550 be held in committee while the RS be advanced to second reading with a due pass recommendation, and followed by introducing the RS, noting it was similar to the prior version but included definition changes and compromises reached with the Idaho Medical Association and midwives.
Mark Harris — A member is called on as 'Representative Stone,' likely a transcription error for a legislator name; the exact identity is uncertain from the text alone.
Mark Harris — Representative Furman jokingly opened, then asked a series of related questions about the lifecycle of donated blood, how often a person can donate their own blood, whether enough blood can be collected and stored before surgery, what happens if complications require more blood than was banked, and finally whether the bill would protect doctors and hospitals in that emergency situation.
Mark Harris — Invited to give closing comments after testimony ended.
Mark Harris — Referenced as having made a prior comment that Representative Egbert agreed with.
Mark Harris — Said he preferred passing the bill as written but was open to changes if needed.
Mark Harris — Said he preferred the bill as written but was open to changes.
Mark Harris — Referenced as the sponsor of the substitute motion.
Mark Harris — Voted yes on the substitute motion.
Mark Harris — Voted no on the original motion.
Mark Harris — Expected to carry the bill on the floor.
Mark Harris — Asked for clarification on the vote count, noting the numbers seemed off.
Brandon Shippy — A name in the transcript appears as 'Representative Brumman,' likely a misrecognition; exact intended member is uncertain.
Megan Egbert — Megan Egbert was called on to speak and then praised Representative Bruce’s work on the bill before asking for clarification on the bill’s liability standard. She repeatedly pressed for an example of what would count as gross negligence and whether liability would require intent to harm rather than merely negligence related to the product.
Megan Egbert — Asks Amanda Cox to clarify where the donor-directed form was posted and when it disappeared.
Megan Egbert — Representative Egbert spoke in support of the substitute motion while raising concerns about the use of the term "detrimental" and the bill’s vicarious liability language, saying those provisions were problematic but that he supported the bill’s intent and wanted minor adjustments. He then voted yes on the substitute motion and no on the original motion.
David Leavitt — David Leavitt responds to questions about the bill’s liability language, explaining that the gross negligence standard was included at the suggestion of attorneys. He says that if a provider intentionally harmed a patient, they would be responsible, and further clarifies that donated blood goes through regular testing and that gross negligence would imply intentional or willful misuse of the product.
David Leavitt — Asks a follow-up question and references another member's question.
David Leavitt — Representative Leavitt asked about how different RH factors affect blood type compatibility and whether people with rare blood types might benefit from collecting their own blood. Dr. Hill responded directly, confirming the point and addressing autologous donation as a possible solution for compatibility concerns.
David Leavitt — Representative Levitt participated in the roll-call vote, voting no on the substitute motion; he was called again later in the same roll call.
Michael Martinez — Michael Martinez was called as a virtual witness from Coeur d'Alene and identified himself as representing Vitalant Blood Donation. He testified that Vitalant operates blood donation centers in Coeur d'Alene and Lewiston, serves 15 hospitals, and prioritizes donor and patient safety. He concluded by opposing the bill, arguing that directed and autologous donations still carry transfusion risks and do not provide a public health benefit. The chair then closed questions and thanked him for his testimony.
Laura DeMere — Laura DeMere was introduced as the next in-person witness and then testified in support of HB 528. She spoke from personal experience about needing blood for surgery, being unable to obtain the unvaccinated blood option she requested, and relying on her own surgery-related blood needs. She explained that her objections to certain blood products are based on religious conviction and her reading of studies, and said direct donor options could improve her chances in future surgery. She also noted that friends had to go out of state to obtain direct donor blood and argued that direct donor participation adds to rather than replaces the blood supply.
Amanda Cox — Amanda Cox introduces herself as speaking on her own behalf and says she is a clinical director at a local family medicine practice. She explains that she has spent years helping patients research direct donor blood options, but her own efforts to coordinate donations for her husband were unsuccessful. She says the direct blood donation form had been available online and was later removed, and that her husband needed a transfusion, making it important to find trusted donors and obtain physician-directed donation.
John Tribble — John Tribble, a local physician and medical director of a nonprofit independent clinic, testifies that multiple patients have had difficulty or been rejected when seeking autologous blood donation through local hospitals and regional blood donor banks. He urges Idaho to align state law with federal regulations so patients can be protected and allowed to make that choice.
Mr. Tribble — Explains that hospitals can deny the request without cause and that the regional Red Cross has also denied requests.
Liz James — Introduced as a virtual witness; she identifies herself as a pharmacist and founder of Blessed by His Blood.
James McPherson — Described as a former director of what is now America's Blood Centers and the Red Cross's regulatory affairs head; quoted admitting they had made a mistake in reassuring the public about blood safety.
Dr. Wafik El Derry — Named as one of the oncologists who presented to ASIP about health implications related to vaccine mRNA in blood and tissue.
Dr. Charlotte Cooperwasser — Named as one of the oncologists who presented to ASIP about health implications related to vaccine mRNA in blood and tissue.
Ms. James — The chair thanked Ms. James for her testimony and asked for questions; no questions were raised.
Shaney McLaren — Shaney McLaren is introduced as the next witness and then states her name, that she represents herself, and that she has 23 years of experience in hospital, clinical, and community education.
Clinton Oler's — Introduced as the next virtual witness; likely refers to Dr. Clinton Olers.
Dr. Clinton Olers — Introduced himself as a historian of science and representative of Safe Blood, explaining his concern about how scientific studies are used in the debate.
woman in Minnesota — Quoted as saying she was awaiting a bone marrow transplant and feared what would happen if her levels dropped again.
Sarah Bacon — The committee first clarifies the name of the next virtual witness, Sarah Bacon, with a brief humorous exchange. Sarah Bacon then introduces herself as a Kimberly, Idaho resident and elected precinct committeeman for Kimberly Precinct 3, states that she is testifying on her own behalf, supports HB 528, asks the committee to vote yes, and closes by thanking the committee before the chair moves on to the next virtual witness.
Sean Alex — Sean Alex is introduced as the next virtual witness, but the witness declines or does not proceed with testimony, and the chair then moves on to the next witness.