Brandon Mitchell — In response to Senator Mitchell’s rent question, the director confirms that they are paying rent and offers to provide the rent numbers later if needed.
Elaine Price — Called during the roll call.
Elaine Price — Representative Elaine Price was called to speak and asked what the department has stopped doing over the last 12 months because of revenue constraints, requesting three concrete examples and a dollar amount. The director then sought clarification on whether she meant actions taken during the holdbacks or over the broader last-12-month period.
Chris Bruce — Chris Bruce was called during the roll call.
Chris Bruce — Representative Chris Bruce questions the director about whether the department relies on keeping positions vacant as part of its budget strategy and how vacancies relate to budget management. The director responds that the department does not use vacancies as a strategy to move money elsewhere.
Kyle Harris — Kyle Harris was called during the roll call, with repeated mentions indicating the same roll-call reference across the opening portion of the meeting.
Brooke Green — Brooke Green was called during the roll call.
Codi Galloway — Codi Galloway is mentioned during the roll call, including a likely misrendered reference as 'Senator Groh' and a direct roll-call mention of 'Galloway.'
Codi Galloway — The speaker addresses and thanks Senator Galloway, with the transcript inconsistently rendering the name as 'Senator Grow' and 'Senator Grell.' The mentions are part of the same continuous exchange and should be treated as one moment involving the senator being directly addressed.
Codi Galloway — Referenced as the line of questioning being followed.
Codi Galloway — Senator Galloway was recognized and then asked a series of related follow-up questions about whether hiring both third-party inspectors and department inspectors is duplicative, what the state field representative position is called, and whether field representatives must also inspect and sign off after third-party contractors complete their work.
James Woodward — Called during the roll call.
Kevin Cook — Called during the roll call.
Kevin Cook — Senator Cook questioned the explanation for utility cost changes shown on the charts, asking why 2025 utility costs were reduced by $240,000, why 2027 includes a $365,000 transfer from the general fund to the dedicated utility fund, and what caused the overall $500,000 swing and sudden increase in utility costs.
Kevin Cook — Thanked at the end of the response; likely the questioner.
Kevin Cook — Asked Director Bailey for an update on the MMIS system and procurement process.
Kevin Cook — Continues requesting an update on the procurement process and legal status.
Kevin Cook — Addressed as the recipient of the update and thanked for work on MMIS oversight.
Kevin Cook — Addressed directly at the start of the response.
Carl Bjerke — Likely intended by 'Burkey.'
Phil Hart — Called during the roll call.
Cindy Carlson — Called during the roll call.
Glenneda Zuiderveld — Likely intended by 'Ciderveld.'
Glenneda Zuiderveld — Senator Galloway questioned Director Bailey about the department’s vacant and underutilized office space, referencing an OPE report and asking what immediate and ongoing savings could result from selling one building and moving staff into vacant space on the Chinden Campus, including reduced maintenance costs for two older buildings.
Glenneda Zuiderveld — Senator Zuiderveld asked a follow-up question about GLP-1 costs and how overspending would be recovered, and then responded in the same exchange to the discussion of the GLP-1 overspend.
Janie Ward-Engelking — Called during the roll call; transcript rendered as 'Ward Engel King.'
Melissa Wintrow — Called during the roll call; transcript rendered as 'Winchrow.'
Melissa Wintrow — Senator Melissa Wintrow questions the Idaho Transportation Department’s current building arrangement, asking about utility payments, occupancy, and whether the department should remain in the building. The director responds that the decision is above his pay grade, and the exchange continues with references to how well the department is doing there and Wintrow signaling she is leading toward a broader point about the arrangement.
Ms. Lippett — Asked to come forward to introduce herself and begin.
Ms. Lippett — Confirmed there were three purchasing officers and noted one was intended for contract management.
Ms. Lippett — Asked to return to fiscal '27 enhancements for clarification.
Ms. Lippett — Addressed by Representative Harris regarding the transferred capital projects balances.
Ms. Lippett — Thanked as the analyst before turning to Administrator Barard.
Francis Lippett — Introduced herself as a budget and policy analyst with Legislative Services and began the presentation on the Department of Administration.
Mark Harris — Asked for confirmation that there were three purchasing officers in the budget enhancements.
Mark Harris — Representative Harris asked for clarification about the transferred capital projects balances for Idaho State Police, and the response explained the difference between the appropriations and the remaining balance, resolving his question.
Mark Harris — Representative Harris asked whether the six canceled projects might be brought back and whether there were discussions about restoring them.
Steve Bailey — Introduced himself as director of the Department of Administration and began introducing his leadership team.
Doug Okuniewicz — Director Bailey discussed state office space utilization, noting the difficulty of fully assessing how much space is in use, possible consolidation opportunities, and the potential sale of the 954 Jefferson building. He described tight conditions at Capitol Mall, vacant land at Chinden Campus, and the cost of paying for vacant space until it is filled, while also saying savings from consolidation could be estimated. The discussion then shifted to staffing needs for Medicaid procurement, where he explained the department is seeking high-talent purchasing personnel because Medicaid solicitations and contract management are highly complex, potentially the largest in Idaho history, and require dedicated support from the AG’s office. He said the team would include a Bureau Chief and two analysts to manage the solicitation and ongoing contracts.
Doug Okuniewicz — Senator Doug Okuniewicz is being addressed in an ongoing discussion about the health care plan’s financial condition, including the earlier question about the $30 million outlay and the need to closely monitor costs and avoid excessive additional spending.
Jordan Redman — Representative Harris questioned the department’s staffing and budget request, first asking about the FTPs received and requested, then pressing why the staffing plan is so management-heavy instead of bringing in lower-level staff who can learn and grow into roles. He then shifted to the budget request’s reference to reviewing Medicaid procurement practices in other states, asking for the underlying study and the basis for concluding those models have been successful.
Deloitte — Deloitte is discussed as a consulting firm assisting Medicaid with the procurement and purchasing process. The speaker explains that Medicaid hired Deloitte to help guide the overall transition, provide expertise on the process, and support the work already underway, with both Medicaid and Deloitte contributing to the ingredients needed for the procurement effort.
Jeff Cornilles — Referenced as the senator who had been asking follow-up questions in the surrounding discussion.
Michael Pearson — He was suggested as someone who might have information on the schedule update for the MMIS implementation.
Ms. Lipitt / Francis Lipitt — The chair calls Francis Lipitt back up to present on the Permanent Building Fund.
Francis Lipitt — Introduces herself and identifies her role as a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office.
Mr. Bybee — Referenced as having previously reviewed the six canceled capital projects.
Ms. Wolfe — Referenced as having previously reviewed the six canceled capital projects.
Administrator Barard — Administrator Barard from the Division of Public Works is present to answer questions on specific projects and is subsequently called on to speak.
Kelly Barard — Introduces herself as administrator of the Division of Public Works under the Department of Administration and asks for the question to be repeated.