House Environment, Energy and Technology Committee
Key Moments
Megan Egbert — Moved to approve the minutes from February 24th and March 2nd.
Heather Scott — Representative Heather Scott is recognized and then moves to send HCR 32 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
Aaron Menneberg — Aaron Menneberg, Idaho Policy Manager for Renewable Northwest, testified in support of the resolution. Near the end of his remarks, the chair repeatedly addressed him by garbled versions of his name while asking him to finish up and concluding the testimony.
expert witness — Hostetler said he had an expert witness who would testify first if given three minutes.
Sarah Allstadt — Introduced herself as a self-represented co-presenter from Ada County and began discussing supporting documents.
Blake — Introduced as the next witness to testify.
Blake Horowitz — Blake Horowitz, a federal trial practitioner with over 30 years of experience and more than 400 prosecutions, testifies about a narrow geoengineering-related issue. He argues that airplane trails are not simply water vapor, distinguishes his claim from stratospheric aerosol injection and the government’s explanation, and says the emissions are causing harm and should be independently studied. He adds that the matter is being prepared for litigation and that he will submit exhibits, after which the committee thanks him and moves on to the next witness.
Ms. Davidson — The next witness is called to state her name and representation.
Jackie Davidson — Jackie Davidson identifies herself as precinct committeeman 1614 and states her support for the memorial. She then describes observing two planes and unusual exhaust patterns, including one narrow trail and another wide trail stretching across the sky. She says she has continued to see striped, criss-cross patterns in the sky and references similar observations in Orlando despite a geoengineering ban. The chair then thanks her and moves to the next witness.
Gary Crandall — Gary Crandall is introduced as a virtual witness and then testifies on his own behalf. He says he runs a ranch and an independent analytical laboratory, and he explains his concern that geoengineering threatens land, livestock, and family health through compounds such as sulfur dioxide and aluminum oxide. He describes conducting air, water, and soil sampling in Idaho over the past two years and reports abnormal levels of sulfur, aluminum, and other synthetic pollutants. He closes by urging the committee to pass the memorial to help protect Idaho’s land, families, and the public’s right to know what enters their bodies. The chair thanks him and asks for questions, but none are offered.
Mr. Horowitz — He references Horowitz's earlier testimony about particles.
Mr. Snyder — The committee attempted to bring up the next telephone witness, but the name appears to be misheard or incomplete.
Ronna Snyder — Ronna Snyder testified as a rural resident describing alleged geoengineering-related impacts in her area. She said she began noticing thick white aircraft trails, and that snow and rainwater tested positive for aluminum, barium, and strontium. She described unusual weather, drought, strong winds, a tornado that damaged trees, reduced stream flow, and a major decline in wildlife. Snyder also said she became ill for extended periods, discussed a doctor’s comments and subsequent diagnoses, and attributed her symptoms to aluminum, barium, and strontium poisoning. She concluded by urging support for Joint Memorial 18 to ban geoengineering in America.
Carol C. Andrews — Carol C. Andrews of Emmett testified in support of Memorial 18, urging lawmakers to stop what she described as experimentation with the environment and toxic chemicals in the air. She said these conditions were harming her health and undermining her ability to tell patients they can recover. She argued that citizens and states have a right to live without such experimentation, and closed by citing declining bird populations and the importance of bees, asking the committee to stand up for the public.
Ms. Heisner — The committee announced the next telephone witness.
Teresa Heisner — Teresa Heisner of Priest River, Idaho testified in support of House Joint Memorial 18 and Sarah Alstott’s testimony. She said that stratospheric aerosol injection and solar radiation modification are occurring globally and cited rain samples taken from her home in August 2024 as evidence. She claimed the samples contained aluminum and barium above EPA safe levels, warned that geoengineering is affecting weather patterns, blocking sunlight, and contributing to severe weather, and added that foreign adversaries could use climate-altering capabilities as a national security threat. Speaking on behalf of her Facebook group, she urged Idaho to forward House Joint Memorial 18 to the President and other federal officials.
J.L. Lesh — J.L. Lesh introduced herself and said she was speaking for herself, then described her and her husband’s nearly two-year struggle with infertility. She explained that they made lifestyle changes to reduce exposure to heavy metals, plastics, and pesticides, but around that same time she began noticing airplane trails that seemed to change the weather. She said she researched the issue and came to believe heavy metals such as aluminum were being pumped into the air, affecting water, food, and fertility. She also noted that her mother, only 50, was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s and linked that concern to heavy metal exposure.
Jordan Redman — Moved that H.J.M. 18 be sent to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
Ms. Lesh — Received thanks for her testimony before questions were opened.
Ms. Lesh — Mentioned as having a mother with worsening neurological conditions that the speaker linked to aerosol spraying.
Ms. Bacon — Was invited to testify and asked to confirm audio connection.
Sarah Bacon — Sarah Bacon, a Kimberly, Idaho resident and precinct committeeman, testified in support of House Joint Memorial 18 and warned about solar geoengineering. She said the issue is unfamiliar to many people and that there has been insufficient transparency and public discussion. She noted that the Biden White House released a congressionally mandated research plan on solar geoengineering, citing prior testimony, and concluded by cautioning that geoengineering activities could harm public health, farms, and livelihoods without community consent.
Sarah Alstott — Referenced as having previously stated that the Biden White House released a congressionally mandated research plan on solar geoengineering.
Ms. Cosette — The committee transitions to the next telephonic witness.
Wendy Cosette — Wendy Cosette testified in support of H.J.M. 15 on behalf of herself and the Ban Geo Engineering in Idaho group. She cited EPA information to argue that Congress has not enacted law specifically addressing solar geoengineering and warned that it could have harmful health and environmental effects. She concluded by urging lawmakers to protect air, water, soil, and natural blessings, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding property rights and the environment.
Dr. David Muznick — Referenced as having given compelling testimony on January 14th about aerosol spraying and related health concerns.
Ms. Disney — The chair thanks Ms. Disney after her testimony and asks for questions.
Erin Bingham — Representative Erin Bingham asks the sponsor a series of related questions about the memorial’s wording, first about the phrase in line 15 and then specifically about what the word 'generally' means. The chair/sponsor then prompts her for a follow-up, indicating the discussion is a single continuous exchange on the same language in the memorial.
Britt Raybould — Representative Britt Raybould is mentioned as having raised concerns about the language earlier in the process, and the revised language is described as addressing those concerns.
Rod Furniss — Rod Furniss is referenced as having raised concerns about the language earlier in the process, and the revised language is described as addressing those concerns.