Bruce Skaug — Representative Crane introduced House Bill 795 as a cleanup bill from the Attorney General’s office and explained the proposed edits. He clarified that the bill is intended to remove unnecessary and duplicative language, and emphasized that it is not meant to allow books or other works to be removed based on isolated objectionable content. Instead, the bill directs that the work be considered as a whole, recognizing that individual scenes or passages may still have historical or literary value.
Bruce Skaug — Not mentioned in this section.
Bruce Skaug — Representative Bruce Skaug was called on during the roll call.
Lance McGrath — Signed up to testify on House Bill 795.
Dr. Lance McGrath — Dr. Lance McGrath, speaking as president of the Idaho Library Association and identifying himself as a resident of Nampa, testified in support of retaining contextual language in the legislation. He argued that material that may appear explicit in isolation can have clear value when considered in context, such as in classrooms, scholarly works, or library collections, and noted that the Miller v. California obscenity standard remains unchanged. He concluded by urging lawmakers to preserve the statute’s guidance that courts consider how material is actually presented and understood, so Idaho can maintain its balance between community standards and constitutional protections for free expression.
Dr. Lance McGrath — President of the Idaho Library Association; testifies in opposition to House Bill 819.
Kelly Anthon — Kelly Anthon is mentioned repeatedly in a short, informal exchange as the speaker addresses or reacts to other representatives, including Representative Mickelsen and Representative Haas, in a brief conversational aside.
Kelly Anthon — Was asked to clarify who must report vendor-paid travel and related expenditures.
Kelly Anthon — Clarified that the vendor, not the state employee, is responsible for reporting expenditures tied to training or conference travel.
Kelly Anthon — Explained that the existing reporting system should be used and that additional profiles can be added if needed.
Kelly Anthon — Responded that the affected vendors would likely be a mix of already-registered and newly added profiles, and that only a small subset of vendors would be covered.
Kelly Anthon — Explained that only a small number of vendors would likely meet the reporting threshold and moved to introduce RS 33650.
Kelly Anthon — Began presenting RS 33653 after the vote on RS 33650.
Kelly Anthon — Introduced RS 33653 and explained that it closes a loophole regarding the sale of surplus administrative facilities.
Kelly Anthon — Stood for questions after presenting RS 33653.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Recorded as voting no.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Not mentioned in this section.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Called on after the exchange with Representative Haas.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Asks where the bill removes definitions and requests the page and line reference.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Asks how the bill defines harmful-to-minors material if sexually explicit is not defined.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Representative Mickelsen is called on for questions.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Representative Mickelsen asks for the specific code section.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Identified as next in line for discussion on the motion.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Argued against applying a lesser standard to private school libraries and urged the committee to consider the role of libraries in society.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Said libraries support critical thinking and that she opposes the bill because she sees it as censoring ideas.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Was thanked before the next speaker continued.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Referenced in the transition before the next speaker's remarks.
Stephanie Mickelsen — The motion to hold House Bill 819 in committee is introduced in response to concerns about parental rights and school libraries.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Continued arguing that the bill conflicts with parents' rights and limited government principles.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Said applying the statutes to school and public libraries is government overreach and reiterated support for holding the bill in committee.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Called on during the roll call and recorded as voting yes.
Stephanie Mickelsen — Recorded as voting yes on the substitute motion.
Stephanie Mickelsen — The transcript says 'Representative Raibald' and 'Representative Britt Raibald'; this appears to be a new speaker not in the expected member list.
James Ruchti — Representative James Ruchti is mentioned in two brief, consecutive remarks directed at Representative Haas during the same exchange, first asking whether Haas is voting no and then jokingly remarking, "Representative Haas, how did I know?"
James Ruchti — James Ruchti opposed the bill, saying the testimony from communities and libraries was overwhelmingly against it and expressing concern that lawmakers were not responding to that public opposition. He also argued that the bill would codify changes that conflict with Supreme Court law and could invite further legal problems. The surrounding roll-call references indicate he was recorded voting no.
Jaron Crane — Introduced reconsideration of House Bill 819 and explained the bill is bringing proposed amendments to House Bill 710 in response to court decisions.
Jaron Crane — Explains the amendments are in response to the Ninth Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court decisions and yields to Michael Zarian.
Jaron Crane — Chair Crane is addressed as presiding over the hearing.
Michael Zarian — Michael Zarian, from the Idaho Attorney General’s Office, explains that the bill is a response to the Texas case and the Ninth Circuit’s opinion, including removal of the phrase “in the context in which it was used,” which the court found problematic. He says the bill also changes the standard for public schools, and clarifies that the Ninth Circuit upheld much of the law while objecting to language it viewed as giving too much discretion. In response to committee questions, he states the bill is not in conflict with Miller, that Miller remains the law of the land, and that the bill tracks the Supreme Court’s language. He then directs members to the definitions section, explaining that terms like “sexually explicit” and “harmful to minors” are defined there and giving the codified citation and page/line reference for “sexually explicit.”
Kathy Grismeier — Kathy Grismeier, Director of Policy and Government Affairs for the City of Boise, testifies in opposition to House Bill 819. She explains that the city opposes the bill because it disregards longstanding legal precedent on how libraries select and provide materials, and she describes the existing three-prong obscenity standard involving prurient interest, patently offensive depictions of sexual conduct, and lack of serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.
Brent Crane — Chair Brent Crane is repeatedly addressed as the committee chair during the hearing as witnesses and speakers begin testimony, greet the committee, and thank him and the members while the exchange continues.
Brent Crane — Representative Brent Crane was called on to help close House Bill 819 and then yielded his remaining time to Michael Zarian.
Brent Crane — During the roll call, Chairman/Representative Brent Crane was called and recorded his vote as yes on the motion.
Vicki Fadness — Called next but not yet present.
Vicki Fadness — The chair and others discussed Vicki Fadness’s attempt to join the meeting virtually. They said they would keep trying to get her into the virtual queue, and then clarified that she would need to re-register as a virtual testifier.
Vicki Fadness — Noted for the record as being in opposition to House Bill 819, though she did not re-register to testify.
Bonnie Schuster — Bonnie Schuster is called to testify, introduces herself as a Boise resident speaking on her own behalf, and states her opposition to House Bill 819. The chair then thanks her, asks for questions, and closes her testimony when none are offered.
Jenny Davidson — The chair announced Jenny Davidson as the next virtual testifier.
Heather Stout — Heather Stout was announced as a witness, then testified that she lives in Latah County and opposes HB 819. During her testimony, the chair asked her to clarify the page 5 language she referenced, and she concluded by asking whether a front-yard free library would be restricted if someone disliked its contents.
Jenny Emery Davidson — Jenny Emery Davidson, executive director of the community library in Ketchum and a resident of Hailey, Idaho, testified in opposition to House Bill 819. Her testimony then concluded, and the chair thanked her.