Melissa Wintrow — Burgess again referenced Senator Wintrow's involvement in the discussion.
Melissa Wintrow — Closed by referencing testimony from Olivia Gonzalez, Alan Hodges, and the Canyon County prosecutor.
Melissa Wintrow — Described the bill as a difficult balance between transparency, public health and safety, dignity of the decedent, and family privacy.
Melissa Wintrow — Said this bill has been tough compared with her usually unanimous bills.
Melissa Wintrow — Asked the committee to consider the bill a first step and pass it along.
Melissa Wintrow — Said she would listen to amendments but asked for support to pass the bill as is.
Melissa Wintrow — Chair thanked Senator Wintrow and returned to committee questions.
Melissa Wintrow — Explained that the bill prohibits release of decedent photos, not necessarily crime scene photos or other investigatory records.
Melissa Wintrow — Reiterated that the bill is intended to protect decedents from public release of graphic photos.
Melissa Wintrow — Said evidence is always kept in these cases and that parties can go to court if they need access.
Melissa Wintrow — Was addressed by Senator Ricks in the question about the bill.
Melissa Wintrow — Explained that the next-of-kin order was modeled on prior DMV-records legislation.
Melissa Wintrow — Continued explaining the next-of-kin hierarchy and referenced prior DMV legislation.
Melissa Wintrow — Clarified the prior driver's license bill reference and continued the discussion of next-of-kin hierarchy.
Melissa Wintrow — Explained that the statute uses a fixed order: spouse, then adult child, then parent.
Melissa Wintrow — Requested the county coroner come up to provide a definitive answer.
Melissa Wintrow — Thanked the committee and said the work continues to protect families and dignity.
Todd Lakey — Presided as Mr. Chairman.
Todd Lakey — Addressed as Mr. Chair.
Todd Lakey — No mention in this section.
Todd Lakey — Addressed as Mr. Chairman.
Todd Lakey — Addressed as Mr. Chairman during the exchange.
Todd Lakey — Addressed as Mr. Chairman during the exchange.
Todd Lakey — Addressed as Mr. Chairman during the exchange.
Todd Lakey — Addressed as Mr. Chairman during the exchange.
Todd Lakey — Addressed as Mr. Chair during the witness introduction.
Todd Lakey — Addressed as Mr. Danner/Ms. Danner during the exchange.
Todd Lakey — Addressed as Senator Lakey / Chairman Lakey during the introduction.
Todd Lakey — Addressed as Mr. Chairman during the testimony.
Todd Lakey — Addressed as Chairman in the witness’s closing remarks.
Todd Lakey — Addressed as Mr. Bozoli during the close of testimony.
Todd Lakey — Addressed as the chair during the pronunciation check and witness introduction.
Daniel Foreman — No mention in this section.
Daniel Foreman — Chair indicated Senator Foreman would make the motion.
Daniel Foreman — Moved to send Senate Bill 1250 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
James Ruchti — No mention in this section.
Doug Ricks — Senator Doug Ricks is acknowledged briefly, then asks questions about whether counties would have concerns if the bill changed from 'may' to 'shall' and seeks further explanation about why discretion might be needed.
Doug Ricks — Doug Ricks asked a series of related questions about the bill’s disclosure provisions, expressing support for the public-protection purpose but suggesting clearer wording for family disclosure. He then asked how competing next-of-kin claims would be resolved, how adult children would be prioritized or handled if they disagreed, how divorced parents’ equal rights would work, and whether the coroner’s office would retain discretion over releasing pictures or other information if the bill’s permissive language remained.
Brian Lenney — No mention in this section.
Josh Keyser — No mention in this section.
Josh Keyser — Josh Keyser asked whether the bill would prevent access by true crime enthusiasts, investigators, or investigative journalists, and he remained part of the same question-and-answer exchange as the discussion continued, including follow-up remarks about record retention.
Brandon Shippy — No mention in this section.
Brandon Shippy — Asked whether the witness’s name was Brassfield and raised a question about the bill’s timing language.
Brandon Shippy — Addressed as Senator Shippy in the response and follow-up.
Brandon Shippy — Asked whether the bill’s 'resolved and no longer active' standard could mean records are never obtainable.
Brandon Shippy — Said he would ask the bill sponsor during closing.
Brandon Shippy — Deferred to for any follow-up question.
Brandon Shippy — Referenced in connection with an earlier question about the bill language.
Allen Hodges — First public witness called to testify.
Alan Hodges — Alan Hodges testified in support of legislation protecting family access to deceased relatives’ photos and post-mortem images, drawing on the death of his daughter and prior advocacy. He argued the bill should use mandatory language and noted that Idaho law currently places no restrictions on families obtaining post-mortem images. The chair then thanked him for his testimony.