Kelly Anthon — Not mentioned directly in the text; no member identification made here.
Kelly Anthon — Votes aye.
Kelly Anthon — Senator Kelly Anthon is referenced in the motion discussion, first as someone who will be attributed a second, and then explicitly as the second on the motion.
James Ruchti — Senator James Ruchti moved to approve the minutes of March 13th, 2026; the transcript includes duplicate references and a repeated statement of the same motion, all describing the same procedural action.
James Ruchti — James Ruchti continued a follow-up line of questioning about the bill’s mechanism for handling FCC discontinuance findings. He questioned whether the Idaho Public Utilities Commission would be required to adopt FCC findings, argued that the bill could force Idaho to accept discontinuance even if it was not in customers’ best interests, cited federal law on when service may be discontinued, and asked for clarification on whether discontinuance could occur without an alternative available to affected customers.
James Ruchti — Senator James Ruchti is acknowledged as the next speaker/recipient of the floor, and shortly thereafter he casts a nay vote.
James Ruchti — James Ruchti questions the bill’s broad language and its treatment of religious organizations and churches, arguing that the proposal could let entities violate the law before disclosure occurs and asking why churches should not be subject to the same rules as other organizations. He continues by probing whether the bill would affect current reporting rules, then shifts to a broader challenge about campaign finance laws, asking whether the witness is effectively saying such laws should not apply to churches. He follows up to press for clarification that his concern is whether campaign finance law should apply to churches at all.
James Ruchti — Senator Ruchti is identified as asking a question about why churches should have separate rules.
James Ruchti — Burrow addresses Senator Ruchti while explaining how a petition could be filed over use of church facilities.
James Ruchti — Questioned whether campaign finance and tax laws placing burdens on religious organizations are unconstitutional and whether churches should be unfettered in the political arena.
James Ruchti — Pressed the witness on whether churches should be exempt from campaign finance and tax-law obligations because of the First Amendment.
James Ruchti — Asked to visit with the Secretary of State and addressed him directly.
James Ruchti — Was directly addressed by the Secretary of State.
James Ruchti — Asked the Secretary of State to clarify whether he supports the legislation.
James Ruchti — Asked follow-up questions about churches' concerns with using a PAC and whether they should be regulated at all.
James Ruchti — Questioned how the Secretary of State's office would oversee the 10% threshold and obtain receipts from the entity.
James Ruchti — Asked how the state would obtain receipts and what penalties would apply after a violation.
James Ruchti — Referenced as having asked a related question earlier.
James Ruchti — Pointed to statutory language stating that a recall is deemed a measure upon approval of the recall petition.
James Ruchti — Referenced as having raised the issue earlier.
James Ruchti — Senator Byrne questions whether the proposed legislation could let a church judge someone’s Christianity and then use that position to participate in or influence a recall election, using himself and other senators as examples of possible targets of such a church-driven political effort.
James Ruchti — Senator James Ruchti is identified as the sponsor of the substitute motion to hold the bill in committee, and he speaks in support of that motion by saying he still has not received a satisfactory answer to his question about why churches would not simply form a PAC.
James Ruchti — Senator James Ruchti moves that Senate Bill 1411 be sent to the floor with a do-pass recommendation, and he is identified as the maker of that motion.
Brandon Shippy — Senator Brandon Shippy is identified in the meeting as participating in a motion, first as the second on the motion and then as the senator making the motion.
Brandon Shippy — His concerns about the PUC yielding to the FCC were referenced.
Brandon Shippy — His concerns about the PUC yielding to FCC decisions were referenced.
Brandon Shippy — A motion for do pass was placed before the committee, prompting discussion.
Brandon Shippy — Expressed concern that the bill gives too much authority to the federal government and implicates state sovereignty.
Brandon Shippy — Said the bill appears to give too much to the FCC while acknowledging the need for infrastructure updates.
Brandon Shippy — Said he does not see how the bill improves current law and worries it allows discontinuance without an alternative.
Brandon Shippy — Argued that the bill's A and B provisions are contradictory and that FCC approval would override the other standard.
Brandon Shippy — Said he cannot support the motion because FCC approval would override the Idaho alternative-service requirement.
Brandon Shippy — Introduced as Senator Shippey and welcomed to the committee.
Brandon Shippy — Introduces Senate Bill 1365 and explains it would allow churches to participate in ballot initiatives or measures.
Brandon Shippy — Yields the remainder of his time to Christian Welp.
Brandon Shippy — Referenced as having previously explained the issue.
Brandon Shippy — Identified himself as Senator for District 9 and began closing remarks in support of the legislation.
Brandon Shippy — Senator Shippy defends the bill as not opening the door to the feared scenario and argues that many hypothetical abuse cases can be imagined, but the legislation’s purpose is to remove barriers that have stifled legitimate churches from speaking on important moral issues. He says churches have become disengaged from public debate, acknowledges that abuse of any law is possible, and indicates he is open to narrowing or tweaking the language by sending the bill to the 14th order. The discussion also references his point that if an organization goes beyond the 10% threshold, it faces another layer of accountability.
Brandon Shippy — Called during the roll call on the motion.
Brandon Shippy — Senator Shippy is named as one of the two members voting nay.
Mark Harris — Moved to send the gubernatorial reappointment of Bud Tracy to the Senate floor with a recommendation for confirmation.
Mark Harris — Responded that the company must identify alternatives in its application and cannot file without an available alternative.
Mark Harris — Senator Harris is identified as making the motion and then votes aye on the matter.
Mark Harris — Referenced as a senator the office is working with on a campaign finance bill.
Mark Harris — Identified as carrying the campaign finance reform bill that would repeal and replace the current laws.
Mark Harris — Called during the roll call on the motion.
Russ Hendricks — Russ Hendricks testified on behalf of the Idaho Farm Bureau in support of House Bill 650 and concluded by asking the committee to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
Treg Bernt — Identified as the second on the motion.
Treg Bernt — A brief committee exchange in which Senator Treg Bernt is referenced through several transcription errors while the discussion continues uninterrupted. The speaker sequence appears to move through a question about cost considerations and then into Bernt’s acknowledgment and greeting to Mr. Gutierrez, indicating one continuous interaction rather than separate topics.
Treg Bernt — Referenced as having asked about service being routed to a different, more expensive service.