Lori McCann — Lori McCann moved to approve the March 12 minutes, and the motion was acknowledged by the chair.
Lori McCann — Representative McCann asked the witness what school she currently attends and then praised her as a brave young lady who did a great job testifying, thanking her for being there.
Tammy Nichols — Addressed as Mr. Chairman in the transcript, likely the chair presiding.
Tammy Nichols — Said to have pursued the issue in prior sessions on the Senate side.
Tammy Nichols — Mentioned as someone involved when the bill was previously attempted.
John Shirts — Asked to come to the podium and introduce the bill.
John Shirts — The transcript appears to refer to Representative Shirts as the sponsor being invited to speak.
John Shirts — Speaks in support of the bill and yields credit to Senator Shippy.
John Shirts — The transcript likely refers to Representative Shirts as the speaker being corrected.
John Shirts — Identified as the person whose idea the bill was and who is present.
John Shirts — Identified as the person being yielded time to and as a key sponsor.
John Shirts — Introduces himself as the Senate sponsor from District 9 and explains the bill's origin.
John Shirts — Referenced as having introduced the sponsor; likely Representative Shirts.
John Shirts — Asked whether he yields to a question.
John Shirts — Thanked for bringing the bill to the House.
John Shirts — Thanked for taking the bill to the House.
John Shirts — John Shirts briefly thanked the witness and noted his pride in representing apple, cherry, and hops growers in his district, followed by a reciprocal thank-you from Ms. Fitch for his service and support.
David Leavitt — Asks a question about how herding dogs are fed around sheep.
David Leavitt — Addressed by name in the response to his question.
David Leavitt — Continues the exchange and explains the question was out of curiosity.
David Leavitt — Thanked for bringing the bill to the House; likely refers to Senator David Shippey/Shippey as named in the transcript context, though not in the expected member list.
David Leavitt — Asked about the local impact if Congress acts on the memorial.
Nailani Vantail / Vantale / Nolani Vantile — First witness is called to testify; name is uncertain in the transcript.
Melanie Ventile — Melanie Ventile, a 15-year-old freshman at Parma High School, testified in strong support of the Working Animal Protection Act, also known as Leilani’s Law. She explained that agriculture is deeply personal to her, shaped by growing up around animals and participating in rodeo, and emphasized that caring for working animals is both a responsibility and a privilege. She also noted the bill’s personal significance because of her grandmother, Lailani Gibbons, who helped develop it, and concluded by asking the committee to stand with Idaho’s agricultural community and support the legislation.
Nailani / Melanie Ventile — Nailani/Melanie Ventile introduced herself as a freshman at Parma High School and then expressed gratitude to the committee for the opportunity to speak.
Matthew Ventile — Matthew Ventile was introduced as the next testifier, then identified himself as a 16-year-old from Parma High School. He testified in support of House Bill 1241, the Working Animal Protection Act (Leilani’s Law), explaining that he has grown up around animals and ranch work and believes working animals are trained for their jobs and are essential to ranch operations. He also said his future is in agriculture and that the bill matters to him personally because his grandmother, Lailani Gibbons, strongly supported the rights of working animals to do the work they were bred and trained to do. The exchange concluded with the chair thanking him.
Russ Hendricks — Russ Hendricks was introduced, then testified that he represents the Idaho Farm Bureau and supports Senate Bill 1241 as amended. He concluded by asking the committee to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
Carrie Semmelroth — Representative McCann is identified as having a question, then speaks about coming from a cattle-ranching and rodeo family and thanks the witness for pushing the bill, saying it is important to protect ranching and that way of life. The witness then responds by saying they completely agree with Ms. McCann's comments.
John Del Rio — John Del Rio introduces himself as a longtime resident of Wilder, Canyon County, and explains his 45-plus years in the exotic animal and aviculture business. He says he has worked with the Cavalry Group and the American Federation of Aviculture, and he supports the bill because he believes animal-related activities such as transporting, displaying, keeping, breeding, and training animals are increasingly being restricted nationwide. He warns that animal-rights activists are targeting people who work with animals, argues that existing animal-abuse laws should be enforced rather than adding more local restrictions, and says Idaho should act preemptively to protect these activities. He cites his experience helping write California animal welfare and pet regulation laws as an example of taking action before pressures grow worse, and concludes by urging passage of the Protection Act and offering to answer questions.
Tommy Eldridge — Tommy Eldridge testifies in support of legislation protecting working animal rights. He introduces himself and notes that his late wife, Leilani Givens, was a strong supporter of working animal rights. He describes their horse-and-carriage business in the Bay Area and how it brought children and families into positive contact with horses and other working animals. He argues that these animals are bred and suited to work alongside people and deserve protection under the bill. He closes by urging support for Layloni’s law and offering to answer questions.
Mandy Stuhan — Introduced herself as executive director of Horse and Halo in Meridian, Idaho.
Sue Hand — The chair appears to identify the witness as Sue Hand after initially missing her name.
Mandy — Mandy explained that the organization’s main concern with the bill is its guaranteed right-to-work language and the related assumption that handlers do not care for their animals. She said working animals are generally well cared for, but the bill’s guaranteed use of an animal tied to loss of revenue is where the organization objects, and she began introducing an example from Representative McCann’s district.
Brandon Shippy — Introduced himself as Senator for District 9 and began closing remarks for the sponsors.
Senator Shippey — Representative McCann asked Senator Shippey about rulemaking and how the legislation relates to existing code. Senator Shippey responded that the bill is not intended to give anyone the right to abuse animals and noted that further clarification may be needed if issues arise.
Jerald Raymond — Presiding over the motion and vote on Senate Bill 1241.
Jerald Raymond — Announced the vote outcome and turned the gavel over to the vice chair.
Jerald Raymond — Addressed as the presiding chair for the memorial presentation.
Jerald Raymond — Presented the memorial and identified himself as representing Legislative District 31.
Jerald Raymond — Explained the memorial's purpose and referenced an earlier memorial on sugar beet industry and school lunch programs.
Jerald Raymond — Thanked for bringing the memorial.
Chris Mathias — Asked a question earlier and is referenced in the closing remarks.
Chris Mathias — Chris Mathias was referenced as arriving late and making a brief comment, then he spoke directly to thank Ms. Fitch for her service and expressed surprise at her retirement.
Shawn Dygert — The committee moved Senate Bill 1241, as amended, to the floor with a do pass recommendation, thanked Representative Diger in connection with the motion, and asked Representative Scherz to carry the bill on the floor.
Christy Zito — The chair announced the gavel would be turned over to the vice chair to manage the meeting.
Samantha Parrott — Samantha Parrott is introduced as the first testifier and then begins her testimony by identifying herself as the executive director of the Snake River Sugar Beet Growers Association.
Roxy Cleverly — Introduced as a high school junior at Columbia whose family raises sugar beets in Nampa and who is job shadowing Parrott.
Roxy Cleverly — Asked if she wanted to testify; she declined.
Ms. Perrett / Samantha Parrott — Ms. Perrett / Samantha Parrott explained that Brazil, Thailand, and India are major subsidizers of sugar production, with their governments providing millions in support that distorts the market. She emphasized Brazil in particular, noting that it pays growers to produce sugar, shifts some production to ethanol, and dumps excess sugar below cost. She also referenced President Trump’s Section 301 investigation into Brazil for unfair trade practices before yielding to the next witness.
Ms. Melinda Merrill — Introduced as the next testifier from Amalgamated Sugar.