Treg Bernt — Referenced indirectly as 'Senator Tave'; his mother was praised for caring for her mother.
Treg Bernt — Likely the senator referred to as 'Senator Burton' who volunteered to carry the bill on the floor; transcription uncertain.
Treg Bernt — Senator Bernt joked about his own outdoor interests—shredding powder, fly fishing, and hunting in the mountains—and used that as a segue to ask Grace about her outdoor activities.
Doug Pickett — Doug Pickett introduced House Bill 731 and explained that it relates to a federal scholarship tax credit program. He described the credit as up to $1,700 for K-12 education, usable for either public or private schooling, and discussed how scholarship-granting organizations would be identified. In response to questions, he clarified that the program is federal rather than an Idaho tax credit and noted that the bill mainly establishes a framework, with many program rules still to be written.
Alison Rabe — Senator Den Hartog asked for clarification about the $1,700 credit, whether SGOs receive the credit, and whether any Idaho tax credits are included.
C. Grow — Asked whether the bill includes any Idaho tax credits, and the answer was no.
C. Grow — Asked whether any Idaho tax credits are included in the federal program; answer was no.
C. Grow — Asked for clarification about the difference between a tax deduction and a tax credit.
C. Grow — Asked how the credit is calculated and whether it is based on a percentage of the contribution.
C. Grow — Asked what the Idaho bill does if the program is federal and whether the benefit is only personal or also state-based.
C. Grow — Asked what the bill does for Idaho and whether the benefit is federal or state-based.
C. Grow — Summarized the bill as a major incentive for school choice and asked for clarification.
C. Grow — Raised the point that the tax credit functions like government money for schooling.
C. Grow — Asked whether a donor can direct the scholarship to their own child and how the credit is received.
C. Grow — Welcomed Grace and asked whether she wants to be an Oregon Duck.
Doug Taylor — Doug Taylor explained that the tax credit is dollar-for-dollar and depends on the taxpayer having federal tax liability, while also noting uncertainty about the standard deduction issue. He then clarified what the Idaho bill does, including that Idaho must opt in for in-state scholarship-granting organizations and that the arrangement made by the bill is permanent.
Caleb Pierce — Caleb Pierce identified himself as General Counsel for the Rital Family Policy Center and Director of the IFPC Legal Center, then continued his testimony in support of House Bill 731, explaining support for the bill and the education freedom tax credit.
Mr. Pierce — Mr. Pierce explained how the scholarship tax credit program works: donors contribute to scholarship-granting organizations, which then distribute scholarships. He clarified that the money does not come back to the donor and cannot be directed to the donor’s own child, and confirmed that the credit applies to federal taxes.
Lori Hartog — Moved to send House Bill 731 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
Grace Louder — Grace Louder is introduced as the committee page and briefly introduces herself as being from Boise, attending Meridian Academy, and planning to study biology at the University of Oregon. She then answers questions about her interests, saying she enjoys walks, nature, bugs, collecting bugs, and that her father influenced her interest in fishing and hunting. The committee expresses appreciation for her presence and notes her upcoming 18th birthday, and Grace says she has already received a voter registration form and that registering to vote is the first thing she plans to do when she turns 18.
Ben Toews — Grace responded to Senator Toews' question about what type of photography she enjoys.
Russ Hendricks — Russ Hendricks is introduced as the first witness and then testifies in support of House Bill 620 on behalf of the Idaho Farm Bureau.
Clay Boatel / Clay Beckle — Next witness is introduced, with the name corrected uncertainly from the transcript.
Clay Beckle — Identifies himself and testifies in support of the bill on behalf of IAC.
Ben Adams — Ben Adams moves House Bill 620 to the floor with a due pass recommendation, and the motion is subsequently attributed to him.
Ben Adams — Senator Ben Adams questions the rationale and time requirement for maintaining the homeowner’s exemption when a property is not the primary residence, comparing it to other residency-related rules and asking Representative Pickett to explain the bill’s intended scope. He then notes support for the bill’s intent while expressing concern that it may be too narrow, and ultimately says he will support the motion to send the bill to the floor.
Ben Adams — Seconded the motion.
Doug Ricks — Doug Ricks is repeatedly addressed as chairman while presiding over a continuous committee hearing segment. He manages discussion on House Bill 610 and House Bill 731, opens and closes questions, handles a motion and vote that passes the bill to the floor, asks about a Senate-side sponsor and recognizes Senator Burton to carry the bill, and then transitions the committee into the introduction of the next bill.
Doug Ricks — Closed questions and invited Representative Pickett to provide a closing summary.