Lori McCann — Moved to approve the minutes dated Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
Lori McCann — Indicated she was about to make a motion.
Lori McCann — Thanked for making the motion on the bill.
Lori McCann — Spoke in support of the motion and said the issue has been in development since before 2021.
Lori McCann — Continues speaking in support of Senate Bill 1335 and thanks those involved.
Lori McCann — Said the issue is local government related and that the bill clarifies that counties could act if they want to.
Lori McCann — Representative McCann moves to send House Bill 781 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
Jerald Raymond — Jerald Raymond is referenced throughout the meeting as the chairman and bill presenter. He presides over the proceedings, introduces and carries Senate Bill 1335, is thanked for his work on the bill, and is later cited in discussion about the bill not requiring funding. The segment ends with him returning the gavel to the chairman after the vote.
Jerald Raymond — The chairman is thanked for allowing the hearing.
Jerald Raymond — Was addressed with a question about the bill language.
Jerald Raymond — Responded that the specific naming is likely for constituent clarity and compared it to prior language adding coyotes.
Jerald Raymond — Explained that naming specific animals may be a constituent-service choice and part of legislative inertia.
Jerald Raymond — Was thanked for bringing the bill and was described as addressing a timely issue.
Jerald Raymond — Was asked to respond to the question about county authority.
Jerald Raymond — Said the county likely already has authority, but the bill seeks clarity before local action.
Jerald Raymond — Was asked to explain the language.
Jerald Raymond — Explained that the language was intended to clarify the meaning of 'plant disease-causing organisms and agents.'
Jerald Raymond — Was the subject of the explanation about the bill language.
Jerald Raymond — Was addressed at the end of the comment.
Jerald Raymond — In this exchange, the speaker praises Representative Matthias, apologizes for giving him a hard time over language that was not his, and thanks him for allowing the teasing. Representative Matthias then responds that keywords could be added in general orders to make the process more reasonable and based on the totality of circumstances.
Christy Zito — Christy Zito, serving as vice chair, briefly took over the gavel for the bill presentation and then returned the floor to Chairman Raymond, handing the presentation back to him.
Dexton Lake — Dexton Lake of the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation was introduced as a witness and testified in support of the bill. He stated that the bill should be supported as a starting point for addressing veterinary shortages.
Mr. Pachi-Larcia-Phillips — Introduced as a lobbyist for the Idaho Cattle Association and Idaho Wool Growers Association.
Travis Jones — Travis Jones introduced himself after not being on the list and identified himself as being with Riley Stegner and Associates, representing the Idaho Veterinary Medical Association.
Pachi — Referenced by the speaker as having spoken earlier about the bill.
Mr. Jones — Mr. Jones thanked the committee and acknowledged collaboration with the Farm Bureau, the livestock industry, and the University of Idaho. In the same discussion, he was later referenced as having noted that the bill may need a few changes as it moves forward.
Chris Mathias — Welcomed to present the next bill.
Chris Mathias — Introduces herself as District 2 and explains the purpose of the bill.
Chris Mathias — The chair refers to the sponsor as Representative Stone before the motion.
Chris Mathias — Chris Mathias closes prior discussion and transitions the committee into House Bill 781, then presents the bill and explains its purpose and origin. He describes how constituents and legislators raised concerns about a drafting issue in the statute involving rodents/rat control, how he and Representative Skog worked to clean up the language, and how the bill continued after related efforts stalled. He frames the bill as a response to an urban rat problem and begins outlining supporting context and examples.
Chris Mathias — Representative Haas discusses concerns with the bill’s rodent-control language, arguing that the listed agricultural-pest definition may not address urban rodents and that subsection two lacks limiting language. Haas questions why rodents would be killed without a clearer limit, raises the possibility of ecosystem collapse if certain rodents were eliminated, and asks whether other Idaho Code provisions or prior bills would already provide authority to eradicate Norway rats in urban areas.
Russ Hendricks — He testifies for the Idaho Farm Bureau in support of Senate Bill 1270 as amended.
Elizabeth Kreiner — Elizabeth Kreiner is introduced as the next witness, then testifies on behalf of Food Northwest in support of national, consistent labeling, and is thanked by the chair after her remarks.
Larcia Phillips — The chair calls the next witness, whose name is garbled in the transcript.
Pachi Larcia Phillips — He testifies on behalf of the Idaho Wool Growers and Idaho Cattle Association in support of the bill.
Robert Beiswenger — He asks the witness about federal progress and whether the new administration has changed anything.
Carrie Semmelroth — Referenced earlier in the discussion as part of the committee context; no direct speech in this section.
Mr. Larcia Phillips — Thanked for testimony; the speaker indicates no further questions for him.
David Cannon — Likely the member being addressed as 'Representative By Swinger' in the transcript; asks about safety studies and health effects.
David Cannon — Representative Matthias responded to concerns about county commissioners and local governance, saying that while he cannot speak for every county, his constituents can vote out commissioners who overreach. He also acknowledged the other member's point and noted his appreciation for the existing language, framing his comments from the perspective of his constituents.
David Cannon — The speaker references Representative Byswinger's concern about the bill.
David Cannon — The speaker acknowledges Representative Byswinger's concern about the bill.
David Cannon — Representative Matthias responds by citing Idaho Code provisions related to invasive species and public health nuisances.
David Cannon — Representative Matthias says House Bill 1212 or Senate Bill 1271 would have handled the issue if passed.
David Cannon — Representative Matthias notes that jackrabbits may not be covered by the definition of rodent and suggests moving them to another section if the bill is revisited.
David Cannon — Representative Byswinger makes a substitute motion to hold the bill in committee.
David Cannon — Representative Matthias asks to make an amended substitute motion and says he wants Idahoans to know the conversation is moving forward.
David Cannon — Representative Matthias moves to send the bill to general orders to allow wording changes.
David Cannon — Representative Matthias says he has authority to make motions and requests unanimous consent to withdraw his amended substitute motion.