Douglas Pickett — Named as someone who could answer the question.
Douglas Pickett — Referenced as the member whose permission is being sought to ask a question.
Douglas Pickett — Called on by the chair and responds appreciatively.
Douglas Pickett — Voted no on the substitute motion.
Douglas Pickett — Voted yes on the original motion to introduce RS 33230C1.
Dale Hawkins — Chairman Dale Hawkins is repeatedly addressed as the committee transitions into witness testimony and then through the ensuing question-and-answer exchange. The witness speaks directly to Hawkins and the committee, and Hawkins remains the presiding chair being addressed throughout this continuous hearing segment.
Dale Hawkins — Argued that the committee should not favor one industry over another and emphasized that both potato harvest and vacation-related businesses involve families and teen workers.
Dale Hawkins — Said both industries are important, noted the issue became more complicated after public feedback, and supported sending the measure to the floor.
Dale Hawkins — As chair, called the roll on the motion regarding House Bill 710.
Dale Hawkins — Announced that the motion failed and moved to the substitute motion to hold the bill in committee.
Dale Hawkins — Responded to the comment and said the proposed amended motion was inappropriate.
Dale Hawkins — Ruled that the amended motion was inappropriate.
Dale Hawkins — Declared the motion inappropriate and called the committee at ease.
Dale Hawkins — Directed the committee back and explained how the motion should be properly made.
Dale Hawkins — Facilitated the procedural question and response.
Dale Hawkins — Indicated the motion would still need to be made with the corrective language and called the committee at ease.
Dale Hawkins — Called the committee at ease for a minute.
Dale Hawkins — Apologized for the delay, said clarification was needed, and asked Representative Veile for general language.
Dale Hawkins — Read back the proposed replacement language and page references for the amendment.
Dale Hawkins — Completed the list of page and line references and said the motion would be entered as stated.
Dale Hawkins — Allowed the explanation to proceed.
Dale Hawkins — Dale Hawkins is repeatedly addressed as Chairman Hawkins during a continuous exchange, with the transcript also briefly using 'Mr. Chairman' to refer to the presiding chair. The mentions collectively indicate that Hawkins is chairing the discussion and being directly addressed in that capacity.
Dale Hawkins — Chairman Dale Hawkins cast roll-call votes in the same voting sequence, first voting no on the substitute motion and then voting yes on the original motion to introduce RS 33230C1.
Randy Lords — Randy Lords, superintendent of the Madison School District, testifies in opposition to the House bill. He argues that the district values parent input and local control over the school calendar, noting that parents wanted more time with family around Thanksgiving. He also explains that eastern Idaho’s potato harvest is an important local consideration, but says the district has long accommodated harvest days in its calendar and adjusted scheduling for decades.
Dan Garner — Asks how missed days for potato harvest would be made up in the school calendar.
Dan Garner — Dan Garner supports the motion by drawing on his school board experience, explaining that setting the school calendar is difficult and that calendar dates have gradually moved earlier because of legislative increases in instructional days and funding formula considerations tied to average daily attendance.
Dan Garner — Dan Garner was recorded in the roll call as voting no on the initial motion regarding House Bill 710 and then voting yes on the substitute motion to hold the bill in committee.
Dan Garner — Representative Dan Garner questioned why public school districts do not fall within the definition of an authorizer, asking why they would not fit that definition. The witness then responded to his question, continuing the same discussion.
Dan Garner — Dan Garner appears in consecutive roll-call voting mentions: first recorded as voting yes, then later recorded as voting no on the motion to introduce RS 33230C1.
Alexa Morgan / Alexis from Eagle — Introduced as the next testifier; the transcript also renders the witness name as Alexis and says she is from Eagle.
Jason Moss — Jason Moss is introduced as a virtual testifier from Grace, then states that he is the superintendent of Grace School District and begins testimony opposing the bill. After his remarks, the chair thanks him and opens the floor for questions.
Jennifer Johnson — Jennifer Johnson is introduced as the next in-person testifier, then identifies herself and states that she is from Boise, representing herself. She explains that she is a local small business owner and a parent of twin boys in the Boise School District, testifying against the bill.
Scott Wilson Hume / Scott Wolston Hume — Introduced as the next testifier from Idaho Falls; he identifies himself as superintendent of Bonneville School District.
Scott Wolston Hume — Scott Wolston Hume, superintendent of Bonneville School District, explains that the district opposes the bill because it sets its school calendar through a local, family-driven process. He says the district uses a three-year calendar cycle and regularly surveys parents and patrons about what calendar best serves their children. He cites survey results showing strong support for the current calendar and low support for changing it, and he closes by urging lawmakers to let school boards make calendar decisions based on what families and communities want.
Misty Swanson — Misty Swanson, executive director of the Idaho School Boards Association and a parent of a public school student, testifies in opposition to House Bill 710. She argues that Idaho communities need flexibility to set school calendars that reflect local priorities, including harvest breaks in eastern Idaho, and says school boards and administrators have already balanced educational requirements with community and economic needs. She warns that a mandated September start date could push the school year into June or even late June, creating burdens for families.
Pam Easton — Introduced as the final signed-up testifier from Meridian.
Pam Eaton — Pam Eaton, speaking for the Idaho Lodging and Restaurant Association, testifies in support of the bill. She explains that Idaho tourism businesses depend heavily on teenage workers, and when school starts earlier those workers become unavailable while tourism demand continues. As a result, businesses are short-staffed, some popular attractions have to close or reduce operations in mid-August, and the bill would help support Idaho’s tourism economy.
John Vanderrata — John Vanderrata argues in favor of a uniform school start date after Labor Day, saying districts have enough flexibility to adjust schedules and breaks so a later start would not force schools into June. He maintains that Idaho schools can still finish on time under this approach and that it would work statewide.
Chris Mathias — Chris Mathias says the testimony on both sides of the bill was persuasive and that the issue deserves further consideration, then requests roll call votes on both motions.
Chris Mathias — Chris Mathias spoke against the amended substitute motion, saying he would not support it, and then participated in the roll call vote on House Bill 710, where he was recorded as voting no; a later roll-call mention of his name appears to be part of the same voting sequence.
Chris Mathias — Chris Mathias asked follow-up questions about the complexities of eligibility criteria for traditional public schools, specifically requesting more detail on how that process works and how it differs from charter schools.
Chris Mathias — During the roll-call vote on the motion to introduce RS 33230C1, Chris Mathias’s vote was initially unclear in the transcript but was subsequently recorded as a yes vote.
Tony Wisniewski — Tony Wisniewski says he sees both sides of the issue but wants the bill to go to the House floor so all 70 members can vote on it, rather than having only the 14 committee members decide.
Tony Wisniewski — Tony Wisniewski is referenced during a committee discussion in which the speaker agrees with his position that the issue may be better handled by the larger body rather than in committee. The transcript also includes a mispronounced/transcribed reference to his name. Later, Wisniewski appears in the roll call vote sequence, though the transcript does not clearly record his vote.
Tony Wisniewski — Tony Wisniewski is referenced in the discussion and then recorded as voting no on the substitute motion and no on the original motion to introduce RS 33230C1, indicating consistent opposition during the procedural votes.
Clint Hostetler — Representative Hostetler says the issue needs to be discussed and comments on local control, explaining that while he is not always a fan of the term because it can be abused, he still believes the matter should largely be left to school boards and parents in his district.
Clint Hostetler — Clint Hostetler is called during the roll call vote; the transcript does not clearly indicate how his vote was recorded.
Clint Hostetler — Clint Hostetler’s roll-call votes were recorded: he voted no on the substitute motion and later voted yes on the original motion to introduce RS 33230C1.
Van Burtenshaw — Was addressed by the speaker as 'Mr. Vandawater,' likely a transcription error for Representative Van Burtenshaw.