Brandon Shippy — Moved to approve the March 6, 2026 minutes.
Brandon Shippy — Senator Shippy questioned Sheriff Donahue about the bill’s impact on sheriff’s departments, asking whether the program would generate revenue for them and whether the sponsors had worked with the Idaho Sheriff's Association in developing the legislation.
Ben Adams — Moved to send Senate Bill 1376 to the floor with a recommendation that it do pass.
Ben Adams — Made the motion on Senate Bill 1376.
Ben Adams — Asked Representative Hill to explain why CAIR is included in the resolution.
Ben Adams — Said he would not oppose the motion.
Ben Adams — Said he would not oppose the motion but wanted to do more personal research before the bill moved forward.
Ben Adams — Said he does not trust federal agencies and will do his own research before the bill reaches the floor.
Ben Adams — Senator Adams was invited to ask questions and then engaged in a brief line of inquiry about the testimony and bill language. He first asked whether being an undocumented immigrant is a crime in the United States, then followed up by focusing on lines 39 through 40 of the bill and asking whether removing the language about participation in any future program or successor program would change the witness’s position.
Ben Adams — Senator Ben Adams asks the witness to restate his name, then continues with questions about immigration enforcement, specifically whether the witness has a problem with ICE coming in and doing its job enforcing immigration policy.
Ben Adams — Senator Adams was introduced and then briefly engaged in discussion about the bill’s opt-out language, including concern about line 41 and openness to the 14th order. The exchange concluded with thanks to Senator Adams and the committee returning to House Bill 659.
Ben Adams — Senator Ben Adams was called during the roll vote.
Ben Adams — Ben Adams discussed the motion at length and ultimately opposed it. He said he could not support the legislation because he viewed the partisan requirement as unnecessary and problematic, argued that the proposal could distort representation and shift influence toward the north end of Boise, and objected to the practical burden of requiring candidates to run in a very large partisan district with frequent elections. The sequence ends with his name being called during the roll call vote.
Jim Guthrie — Presented RS 33722, a proposal concerning a presidential primary and down-ticket races.
Jim Guthrie — Not mentioned by name in the text; no direct member reference here. (No member mention identified.)
Jim Guthrie — During a committee question period, the speaker addresses the chair and Senator Lenny while discussing the bill, thanking them for the presentation and continuing the exchange about narrowing the bill and related future-program language.
Jim Guthrie — The chair is referenced as unable to support the motion.
Jim Guthrie — As chair, said he cannot support the motion and expressed concern about the bill's mandatory language.
Jim Guthrie — Continued arguing for voluntary, local control over agreements and questioned whether the bill mandates officer availability.
Jim Guthrie — Said he cannot support the motion to send the bill to the 14th order and restated the motion on the floor.
Jim Guthrie — Chair announces the motion failed 4-5.
Jim Guthrie — Recorded as voting aye and announces the motion carries 5-4.
Jim Guthrie — Addressed as Mr. Chairman in the ongoing presentation.
Jim Guthrie — Addressed as Mr. Chairman.
Jim Guthrie — Addressed as Mr. Chairman and thanked the senator after the presentation.
Jim Guthrie — Addressed as Mr. Chairman.
Jim Guthrie — Addressed directly at the start of testimony.
Jim Guthrie — Chairman Jim Guthrie is repeatedly addressed as he presides over the hearing: witnesses greet him and the committee, he thanks speakers, invites the next witness to testify, lightly rebukes one off-color remark while allowing the testimony to continue, and later thanks attendees and asks Senator Ed Hartog if he wants to close.
Jim Guthrie — Chair Jim Guthrie manages a sequence of committee business: he calls for a roll call vote on the motion, announces that the motion carries 6-3, then quickly transitions to the next bill while keeping testimony brief. He identifies the bill under discussion, notes that no one else is signed up to testify, asks Senator Nichols whether she wants to close, and then presides over the motion and adjournment.
Treg Bernt — Senator Treg Bernt introduced himself as the sponsor and presenter of Senate Bill 1376. In the ensuing discussion, he was thanked for bringing the legislation, and the chair asked whether he had any closing remarks before the motion and second on the bill were noted.
Treg Bernt — Senator Taves asked whether House Bill 659 could be amended to narrow it to the jail enforcement model, received a response that the bill should not be limited that way, and was told the other provisions should remain on the table. He was then called on and moved to send House Bill 659 to the 14th order for possible amendment.
Treg Bernt — The committee considered a motion to hold the bill in committee and then proceeded through the roll-call vote. During the vote, Treg Bernt was called multiple times under slightly inconsistent transcript spellings, and his votes were recorded, including a no as vice chair and later an aye as vice chair, within the same voting sequence.
Treg Bernt — Recorded as voting 'Aye' as vice chair, though the transcript says 'Vice Chairman Burnt.'
Matt Reaver — Identified as the next testifier.
Matt Reber / Matthew Ryber — Testified in support of the legislation on behalf of the Idaho Secretary of State's office.
Ted Hill — Presented ACR 29 and described his background and interest in the topic.
Representative Hill — Representative Hill was questioned about why CAIR was included in the resolution. He explained that CAIR arose in response to Muslims being treated improperly in public and functioned as a legal advocacy organization similar to the ACLU. The exchange then continued with a challenge to the strength of the terrorist-designation claim, keeping the discussion focused on CAIR and the rationale for its mention in the resolution.
Brian Lenny — Identified himself as representing District 13 and Nampa, Idaho, and began presenting House Bill 659.
Michael Angeletta — Testified in support of HB 659 on behalf of Secure Idaho.
Mary Brown — Mary Brown was called to testify in person and then gave testimony in opposition to House Bill 659 as a Boise resident. She argued that local police should not police immigration status, noted that being undocumented is not a crime and that legal status is difficult to obtain, and concluded by asking the committee to reject the bill.
Sheriff Kieran Donahue — Sheriff Kieran Donahue was introduced as the next witness and then identified himself as the Canyon County Sheriff and a representative of the Idaho Sheriff's Association, beginning his testimony in opposition to the bill.
Sheriff Donahue — Sheriff Donahue testified that the immigration enforcement program is a cost rather than a revenue generator, and that diverting officers to immigration enforcement reduces patrol coverage and limits their ability to respond to traffic stops, injuries, domestic violence, and robberies. He also responded that it is unlawful for a person not here legally to enter the country or the state.
Morgan Bayliss / Morgan Ballas — A new witness is called; the transcript contains an uncertain name spelling.
Morgan Ballas — Identified himself as from the Sheriff's Office and began testimony about the difference between the spirit and letter of the law.
Sheriff Morgan Ballas — Sheriff Morgan Ballas of the Blank County Sheriff's Office and ISA was asked whether removing the disputed language would change his position. He responded that it would go a long way, explaining that local law enforcement should have been consulted in drafting the legislation. He said the bill should reflect state sovereignty and the constitutionally protected role of the sheriff, and warned against giving future presidents a blank check over how officers are used or deployed.
Nessa Nagel — The chair announced moving to another virtual witness, Nessa Nagel.
Nissenagle — Testified in opposition to H.B. 659, arguing police should not be forced to participate in federal immigration enforcement.
Terry Durdon — Introduced himself as chief legal advisor for the Ada County Sheriff's Office and representative of the Idaho Sheriff's Association; testified against House Bill 659 on behalf of Sheriff Clifford.
Mr. Dernan — Explained Ada County's current working relationship with ICE, including an MOU for some task force activity and informal jail coordination.
Vicki Fadness — The committee indicates it will try to connect her virtually as the next witness.