Ali Robbie — Introduced himself as representing District 16, including Garden City and Northwest Boise, and began presenting the bill.
Jordan Redman — During public testimony, the committee chair and witnesses discuss Senator Robbie. The exchange opens with a question directed to Senator Robbie, and later a witness notes that Senator Robbie could likely address the issue better, reinforcing that the discussion remains centered on his testimony and perspective.
Jordan Redman — Chairman Jordan Redman opens consideration of House Bill 706, takes the committee vote, votes yes himself, and then announces that he will carry the bill on the floor before stating the committee is adjourned.
Rob Schaplock — A member of the Professional Firefighters of Idaho who testifies in opposition to House Bill 706.
Vito Barbieri — Representative Vito Barbieri is recognized and questions the witness, focusing on the track record of single-stairway buildings worldwide and asking for the witness’s response to that history.
Vito Barbieri — Representative Barbieri is called during roll call; no vote is captured in this excerpt.
Mr. Schaplock — Mr. Schaplock first disputes the cited 12-year track record and notes that he has seen fatal fires in multifamily dwellings. He then explains that while exterior tactics are used, search and life safety require checking the interior first. Finally, he says he personally was not consulted on the matter, though his counterpart, Vice President Matt Smith, was.
Kyle Harris — Representative Kyle Harris asks about fire response tactics, specifically whether exterior access might be safer for firefighters than entering through the interior in a six-story building. The discussion continues as he references the handout and the tactical considerations of checking for victims before making an exterior attack.
Kyle Harris — Representative Harris said he would support the motion, while noting he would oppose mandatory adoption by all cities.
Kyle Harris — Representative Harris is called during roll call; no vote is captured in this excerpt.
Michael Veile — Representative Veile asks whether the witness was consulted on the bill and had input into drafting.
Michael Veile — Representative Veile votes yes.
Josh Wheeler — Vice Chairman Wheeler asks whether any mitigating elements would make the bill acceptable and how many other states use the design.
Josh Wheeler — The vice chair votes yes.
Brent Crane — Representative Crane is called on for a further question.
Brent Crane — Representative Brent Crane stated that he could not support the legislation, while expressing appreciation for the sponsor's efforts. He then requested a roll call vote and ultimately voted no.
Jaron Crane — Representative Jaron Crane questioned the proposed stairwell and single-egress requirements, asking whether 48 inches is already current code or an increase, whether a wider stairwell such as 60 or 72 inches would make the proposal acceptable, and whether the core objection is really single egress rather than width. He then asked whether cities could choose to adopt the measure individually, such as Meridian, Boise, Nampa, or Caldwell, as part of the broader discussion of how the proposal would apply locally.
Jaron Crane — Representative Crane is called and recorded as yes; the transcript likely intended the other Crane member.
Mike Bazanio, Fire Marshal, Boise Fire Department — Testified on behalf of the Idaho Fire Chiefs Association and explained that the required stair width depends on occupant load and egress path.
Mike Bazanio — Mike Bazanio discussed fire/life-safety provisions in the bill, explaining that some jurisdictions use wider dimensions than the bill’s 48-inch requirement, that egress systems can fail at a single point as illustrated by the Denver airport train example, and that stairwells must serve both firefighter entry and occupant evacuation, which is why pressurization was requested. He also noted that only jurisdictions with ordinance authority, such as cities, could require these measures, while fire districts could not, making the bill’s approach statewide.
Robert Elliott — Robert Elliott, a Boise resident speaking for himself, testified in support of H.B. 706. He argued that the bill advances property rights, market-driven housing, and affordability, and concluded by urging support for housing affordability and local control with a due-pass recommendation.
Jordan Morales — Jordan Morales, a Southeast Boise resident speaking for himself, testified in support of the proposal and argued that single-stair buildings can work well for family housing, including larger multi-story buildings, corner units, better ventilation, and a better fit within neighborhoods.
Christian Solorio — Christian Solorio is introduced as the next virtual witness, and the chair invites him to introduce himself for the record and begin his testimony.
Richard Cheatum — Asks what additional mitigation offsets the risk of a single stairway and what the cost might be.
Richard Cheatum — Asks whether some of the listed mitigation measures are already in existing construction code.
Richard Cheatum — Asks for the cost of the added mitigation measures compared with the claimed $300,000 savings.
Richard Cheatum — Representative Cheatum is called during roll call; no vote is captured in this excerpt.
Joe Palmer — Representative Palmer is called during roll call; no vote is captured in this excerpt.
Jeff Cornilles — Representative Cornilles votes yes.
Jeff Ehlers — Representative Alers is called during roll call; likely a transcription error for Ehlers, but no vote is captured here.
Jason Monks — Representative Jason Monks is called during roll call; no vote or additional discussion is captured in this excerpt.
David Cannon — Representative David Cannon casts a yes vote during the roll call.
Kent Marmon — Representative Marmon votes yes.
Cornel Rasor — Representative Rasor is called during roll call; no vote is captured in this excerpt.
Steve Berch — Representative Birch is called during roll call; no vote is captured in this excerpt.
Brooke Green — Representative Brooke Green is first recorded as voting yes, with a transcription error in the call. Shortly afterward, the chair jokes about Green carrying the bill on the floor before clarifying that he will carry it himself, keeping the discussion focused on the bill's floor handling and Green's involvement.