Phil Hart — The speaker addresses the chair as 'Chairman,' but no specific chair name is stated in this section.
Phil Hart — The chair is addressed as Mr. Chairman.
Phil Hart — Was addressed in the exchange as 'Representative' and 'Senator' in the follow-up question context, though the speaker identity is not fully clear from the transcript.
Phil Hart — Identified as seconding the motion on House Bill 628.
Carrie Semmelroth — Carrie Semmelroth asks about quality control in the proposal, specifically whether parents with bad driving records would still be allowed to teach. The sponsor’s response and follow-up remarks continue to reference her question, keeping the discussion focused on the same concern about eligibility and oversight.
Alison Rabe — The sponsor appears to address Senator Rabe in response to the safety question.
Alison Rabe — Asked whether the 70% statistic referred to vehicle crashes or pedestrian fatalities.
Alison Rabe — Marissa Keith said she agrees with Lisa Brady's earlier testimony.
Alison Rabe — Alison Rabe greets Olivia Earle and asks about the biggest differences between Connecticut and Idaho.
Lisa Brady — Lisa Brady was introduced as the first in-person testifier and then identified herself as a Boise resident. She began her testimony by explaining that she represents Safe Routes to School and works as a bicycle/pedestrian and driving advocate.
Lori Solders — Lori Solders is introduced as the next virtual witness, then confirms she can hear the committee and is heard clearly, setting up her formal introduction and testimony.
Lori Salders — Identified herself as representing the Idaho Coalition for Motorcycle Safety and referenced the bill's history since 2022.
Ms. Solders — The chair thanked Ms. Solders for her testimony and noted there were no questions.
Tonya Housevite — Tonya Housevite is introduced as the next virtual witness, with the chair noting uncertainty about the spelling of her name. She then joins the meeting virtually, and the chair confirms that she can hear and be heard clearly.
Tanya Hossite — Testified on behalf of Phillips Driving School and opposed House Bill 628.
student and her father — Witness described working with a student who had failed driver's ed and whose father wanted to teach her.
Ms. Housefight — Chair thanked the witness after testimony and noted there were no questions.
Marissa Keith — Marissa Keith testified on her own behalf as a parent of three children and someone who works in the Safe Routes to School field. She said she agrees with Lisa Brady and then explained her concern that parents are not equipped to teach everything needed for safe driving, emphasizing that driving is a privilege, not a right.
Josh Keyser — Asked whether the bill would remove private or certified driver training requirements.
Josh Keyser — Identified as making the motion to send House Bill 628 to the floor.
Codi Galloway — Senator Galloway spoke in support of the motion, explaining that the main challenge in driver’s education is scheduling it into students’ busy urban school routines rather than the six-hour requirement itself. He emphasized that the change would give parents and students greater flexibility and make it easier to fit driver’s ed into their schedules.
Gaston Patterson — Gaston Patterson is introduced as the gubernatorial appointee to the Aeronautics Advisory Board and welcomed to the committee. He then gives background on his current role as Coeur d’Alene Airports’ airport director and fire chief, along with his long career in aviation, including work in airport operations, commercial and private aviation, aerospace manufacturing, aircraft building, piloting, and prior public service as a deputy. He says he wants to use that experience to support Idaho and improve aviation transportation safety. In response to questions, he describes Idaho as a growing aerospace and aviation manufacturing center, supports that growth as an economic opportunity, and explains a privately implemented temporary tower system at the Coeur d’Alene airport that improves airspace safety and may serve as a model for the federal contract tower program. He then outlines the Aeronautics Advisory Board’s role as providing guidance to the Transportation Committee and governor on aeronautical concerns, including airport funding, safety, and the state aircraft fleet. The exchange ends with the committee indicating there are no further questions and that his nomination will be voted on later.
Olivia Earle — Olivia Earle introduces herself as the new Senate page and shares a broad self-profile: she recently moved to the Boise area from Westport, Connecticut, and says the move has given her a new perspective. She describes her activities and interests, including mock trial, ballet at Ballet Idaho, horseback riding, fashion, nature, and shooting clay pigeons and pheasants with her dad. She explains that her mother is from the Netherlands, giving her dual citizenship; Dutch was her first language, she also knows Afrikaans, and she has been studying French for six years. Olivia says she is interested in international law, may attend college in Washington, D.C. with Georgetown as her top choice, and hopes to work in the White House or in a Senate-related role someday. She also reflects on the differences between the East Coast and Idaho, describing Idaho as kinder, more compassionate, neighborly, and scenic, with access to the foothills and hiking.
Van Burtenshaw — Welcomes Olivia Earle and advises pages to write down their daily experiences and stay open to returning to the legislature in the future.
Doug Okuniewicz — Thanked Olivia for participating, said the committee looked forward to working with her through the rest of the session, and acknowledged the sacrifice involved.