Jordan Redman — The chair said Representative Redman was in another committee and would join late, and that he sent his apologies for not being present.
Jordan Redman — The co-chair is welcomed back to the meeting.
Jordan Redman — Jordan Redman was welcomed to the podium and introduced a study request on Medicaid hospital billing, explaining that the analysis was not personally requested by him and answering committee questions. The discussion then continued with Redman presenting a second study request related to Your Health Idaho plan selection, based on a constituent’s concerns, and explaining that the study would help evaluate uninsured Idahoans, Medicaid and private plan dynamics, and the impact of rising health care costs. He concluded by inviting further questions from the committee.
Jordan Redman — Representative Redman seconded the motion to accept the four projects.
Douglas Pickett — Representative Pickett moved to approve the minutes of September 25, 2025.
Douglas Pickett — Representative Pickett seconds the motion to release the report.
Mark Harris — Identified as the presenter for the topic on growth impacts on agriculture and infrastructure.
Mark Harris — Introduced himself as Mark Harris of the Idaho State Senate, Legislative District 35, and said he was standing in for Senator Robbie.
Mark Harris — Responded humorously to a question about roundabouts in Idaho Falls.
Mark Harris — Senator Harris is being asked to continue with another proposal.
Mark Harris — Senator Harris introduces a new proposal requesting an OPE study of fund balance management for boards and commissions under Doppel.
Mark Harris — Senator Harris says he wants the study to focus on funding rather than broader functionality impacts.
Mark Harris — Senator Harris is thanked for both presentations.
Dave Lent — Senator Lent was addressed during the presentation after a comment about Idaho Falls.
Dave Lent — Senator Lent was the source of a brief comment about favorite roundabouts near Costco.
Dave Lent — Made a brief comment about his favorite roundabouts near Costco.
Dave Lent — Senator Lent is welcomed after the earlier confusion about the agenda order.
Dave Lent — Asks for a reminder of which projects were categorized as small, medium, and large.
Dave Lent — Senator Dave Lent is referenced while discussing the relative sizes of several projects and the idea that they should be approved by rank. The exchange notes that one project was described as small, another as smaller, and Medicaid as large, with the follow-up clarifying that approval would be based on ranking the projects by priority.
Dave Lent — Senator Lent first asked for clarification about the $1 per line fee, including whether counties had absorbed additional costs since the fee was enacted. He then noted that the committee may have identified an issue to examine because phone line fees are governed by both federal law and state statute, and suggested the state may have a role in helping address the financial and governance aspects of the issue. Later, he followed up by asking for a dollar estimate for the technology upgrade costs.
Ilana Rubel — The chair explains that the committee uses eight criteria to evaluate the study and says they will also ask Mr. Langrell whether the study is full-size or smaller, which will help determine how many studies can be assigned.
Ilana Rubel — Representative Ilana Rubel asks a series of related questions seeking population estimates, including the ward population and the current number of vulnerable adults in the program.
Ilana Rubel — The transcript appears to refer to Representative Rubel as 'Representative Rebell' when making the motion to release the report.
Richard Cheatum — Representative Birch is acknowledged in the discussion and then asks follow-up questions about the study’s focus, first on whether it is primarily about cost and then on whether it should be expanded to address functionality impacts as well.
Richard Cheatum — Asked whether the report could include quantification of reports and comparative analysis with other states.
Richard Cheatum — Clarified that he wants both policy review and quantification of the magnitude of the issue included in the report.
Richard Cheatum — Said he has heard concerns about secrecy and transparency and asked whether OPE can obtain data not readily public.
Richard Cheatum — Introduces the next study request on drivers of incarceration and Idaho's prison population growth.
Richard Cheatum — Confirms that the report should include recommendations for reducing the factors driving prison population growth.
Richard Cheatum — Representative Birch first asks whether OPE has the capacity to take on the top four selected projects, then moves to accept the four projects that have at least half or more of the committee's endorsement.
Richard Cheatum — Representative Birch is addressed in a question asking whether the funding concern is essentially a staffing issue.
Richard Cheatum — Representative Birch participated in a discussion about 911 funding and service needs, first asking whether OPE should recommend declaring 911 an essential service, then being referenced in follow-up discussion, and later asking where funding is most lacking—whether in staffing, equipment, or another area.
C. Grow — Senator Groh raises a question about whether comments can be made now or should wait until the end, in the context of a broader discussion about long-reviewed funding issues and overfunded agencies. Shortly after, he is thanked for his comments as part of the same exchange about progress toward balancing fund levels across agencies.
John Gannon — Representative Birch is referenced in connection with the feasibility question, first as asking a question of Representative Redmond and later as having initiated that same feasibility discussion.
Sasha O'Connell — Sasha O'Connell, the state Medicaid administrator and deputy director at the Department of Health and Welfare, said the proposal could be very helpful. She clarified that the people referenced were not staff, noted that the department has requested additional program integrity resources, and explained that while more resources are needed, OPE staff could still help inform next steps, including hospital DRG analysis. She added that the department is always open to additional resources to support oversight of the program.
Clay Handy — Clay Handy introduced himself as a representative from District 27 in Burley, Idaho, and then discussed his eight years of experience on a local board of guardians. He explained how a prior bill changed guardian responsibility until internment, noted that the state did not receive a refund in that process, referenced an old 2002 guardian manual, and urged lawmakers to take a close look at the boards of guardians and encourage broader participation from more people and counties.
Dustin Manwaring — Handy said Representative Manwaring had presented a new manual recently.
Jerald Raymond — Representative Birch is referenced and then directly acknowledged as having asked a question earlier in the discussion, indicating a single brief exchange centered on his question.
Dori Healey — Representative Dori Healey is repeatedly referenced as the sponsor and introducer of the proposal under discussion. The conversation stays focused on that same legislative item, and it concludes with a committee member thanking the speaker for sharing a story and for their hard work, continuing the same exchange rather than shifting topics.
Melissa Wintrow — Chair Wintrow is thanked for presiding over the discussion.
James Ruchti — Senator James Ruchti introduces the sexual assault study request, explaining that it was prompted by Investigate West reporting and public concern. He frames the study as a way to determine whether there is a real problem, rather than to re-investigate the underlying allegations, and to assess how such issues might be prevented.
James Ruchti — Senator James Ruchti commented that the Idaho Home Learning Academy report warranted follow-up, warned that failing to do so could send the wrong message, and then made a motion for a follow-up study on the issue. The discussion also briefly touched on whether a timeframe should be recommended for the follow-up.
Mr. Langrell — Mr. Langrell first explains the secret ballot process and notes that Casey will collect the ballots. He then continues with remarks about the projects under consideration, restating and categorizing them by size as small, medium, and large.
Mr. Langrell — Confirms the relative scope of the top projects and indicates they can likely be done together.
Casey — Will come around and collect the ballots.
Mr. Petty / Casey Petty — Introduces himself and is asked to explain the vote totals and ranking guide.
Casey Petty — Casey Petty reports the committee vote results for the projects, stating that the two community garden boards received the most votes, followed by doppel fund management and Medicaid hospital billing with three votes each, indicating how support was distributed across the proposals.
Director Langrell — Says OPE can handle four projects and confirms the top selections are feasible.
Brent Crane — Seconded the motion.
James Petzke — Representative James Petzke discussed the timing and context for the Idaho Home Learning Academy follow-up, initially suggesting a longer timeframe to observe results over a full cycle, then agreeing to follow the director’s recommended timeline, and finally noting that policy considerations may have changed since the 2023 study.