Phil Hart — Representative Mickelson says 30 days was too short and argues 60 days is enough to register a vehicle after becoming a resident.
Phil Hart — Representative Mickelson reiterates that 60 days should be enough to register vehicles and get driver's licenses.
Phil Hart — Representative Mickelson responds that gas tax revenue is not keeping up with road and bridge needs and that electric vehicles do not pay gas tax.
Phil Hart — His name is called during the roll call vote.
Phil Hart — Votes during the roll call are recorded, though the transcript is garbled around his response.
Mike Moralia — Mike Moralia, representing the Idaho Fraternal Order of Police, testified in support of the bill. He said the bill would improve accountability, especially regarding dangerous driving and nonpayment issues, and raised concerns about an interstate compact issue affecting law enforcement. He further explained that officers need more information when making discretionary decisions during traffic stops and license checks.
Matthew Condi — Matthew Condi, speaking for AAA, testified in support of the bill. He explained that AAA supports it because it balances accountability with mercy, including payment plans and exceptions for medical and work-related needs. He also noted that parking violations are excluded and that the issue had been discussed for several years. Finally, he said AAA had spoken with the original sponsor, who agreed the problem was an unintended consequence of a larger policy and worked to address it.
Carrie Semmelroth — A motion later in the section appears to be attributed to a similar-sounding name in the transcript, but this section itself does not clearly identify her.
Carrie Semmelroth — Made the motion to send House Bill 927 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
Carrie Semmelroth — Asked why the franchisee option does not work for Scout Motors.
Carrie Semmelroth — Senator Semmelroth moved to send Senate Bill 1424 to the floor with a do pass recommendation, thanked former Representative Addis and Representative Hill for attending, and noted that while she was still undecided on her final vote, she wanted the bill to advance so the discussion could continue on the floor.
Carrie Semmelroth — Is identified as the second on the motion.
Carrie Semmelroth — Referenced in the prior context as part of the discussion on unpaid traffic fines and enforcement concerns.
Carrie Semmelroth — Seconded the motion to send House Bill 717 as amended to the 14th order for possible amendments.
Carrie Semmelroth — Called during roll call; transcript is garbled around her name.
Mr. Connie — Was thanked for testimony and confirmed the pronunciation of his name.
Mr. Kelly — Said he did not know why the collections issue has been a problem and shifted to the broader concern about delinquent fines.
Mr. Collin — Said he does not know much about collections but understood they can affect credit and involve liens.
Mr. Connolly — Thanked for being present and testifying.
Codi Galloway — The chair thanks Representative Green and opens the hearing on House Bill 508.
Codi Galloway — Senator Galloway moves to send House Bill 666 to the floor with a do pass recommendation.
Codi Galloway — Says it may still be possible to get something into the amending order and asks whether the sponsor can respond.
Codi Galloway — Codi Galloway is mentioned during roll call, though the response is garbled in the transcript, and is then referenced again in the chair’s closing remarks before adjournment.
Representative Green, District 18, Southeast Boise — Introduces House Bill 508 and explains its purpose.
Representative Green — Representative Green concludes his presentation and then answers questions about the bill’s bike/pedestrian provisions, explaining that such improvements must be tied to an existing maintenance or capital project, that federal grants can be leveraged within the project, and that the language reflects provisions from last year’s Senate bills and current statute. He notes he is speaking from memory, then closes by describing the changes as two fixes and asks for support for House Bill 508.
Van Burtenshaw — Senator Van Burtenshaw moved to send House Bill 508 to the floor with a due pass recommendation, and the motion was seconded by Senator Robbie.
Van Burtenshaw — Van Burtenshaw first proposes an amended substitute motion to change the deadline from 30 days to 60 days. He then moves to send House Bill 666 to the 14th order for possible amendments. Subsequent remarks reference prior discussions with Representative Mickelson and others, explaining that 30 days seemed too short and that 60 days was a more reasonable timeframe, with support expressed for the 60-day idea.
Van Burtenshaw — Van Burtenshaw makes a motion to send House Bill 717 as amended to the 14th order for possible amendments, and his name is then called during the roll call on that motion.
Alison Rabe — Joins discussion on the motion and says she agrees with Senator Hart.
Alison Rabe — Senator Adams is repeatedly referenced in a discussion about the practical enforceability of a residency-based requirement, including how a 30-day residency period or renter status could be verified, whether investigations would be needed, and a follow-up clarification on the example being used. The exchange culminates in Senator Adams directly asking how homeowners and renters would be checked and whether the law could be applied uniformly.
Alison Rabe — During roll call and a brief committee exchange, Alison Rabe is called in a garbled vote sequence, and the chair remarks that this is her last Transportation Committee meeting, indicating a farewell or final attendance moment.
Jim Addis — Introduces himself as representing the Idaho Auto Dealers Association and supports the bill as a response to China-related concerns.
Jim Addis — Introduced himself as being with the Idaho Auto Dealers Association and began closing comments.
Mr. Addis — Mr. Addis responds to committee questions about vehicle technology and data ownership, explaining that the systems involved are Chinese-designed software and hardware and that China owns the camera data on the electronic cars. He then connects this to the broader policy issue, arguing that Idaho companies already had the ability to do this and should not lose that right, while emphasizing that the bill is intended to protect the existing franchise dealership model for American vehicles in Idaho from Chinese manufacturers that do not use it.
Mr. Addis — Mr. Addis, a longtime Ford dealer in Coeur d'Alene, argued that Idaho has very low barriers to becoming a franchise dealer and that the state’s dealer licensing requirements are minimal. He said consumers would not be harmed if a company chose not to become a franchise dealer, emphasized that franchisees set their own requirements, and framed the bill as a response to an existential national threat. In response to questions about competition, he said Idaho dealers are small businesses serving their communities and that it is easy to become a franchise dealer, so there is no real hindrance to competition. He concluded that the bill is better for small business and for Idaho because it protects the state’s way of doing things.
Shannon Fender — Shannon Fender, representing Scout Motors, testified in opposition to Senate Bill 1424 and explained that Scout is still in pre-production while building its manufacturing facility in South Carolina. She described Scout’s direct-sales business model, noting that because Scout does not have franchise dealer relationships, it can offer a more transparent, digital-forward, and customized customer experience. In response to questions, she clarified that Scout would act as its own franchise dealer rather than use a third-party agreement, said this approach is a business and philosophical choice, and explained that Idaho law allows manufacturers without franchise dealers to sell directly in the state. She added that Scout is licensed as its own dealer in other states and would still be able to carry out its direct-sales strategy even if the bill passed.
Ms. Fender — Ms. Fender explained that Scout Motors is currently in pre-production and added that its truck and SUV models will each have a battery-electric version with a 350-mile range.
Sky Golan — Sky Golan, a policy manager at the Electrification Coalition, testified in support of electrification of the U.S. transportation sector to protect economic and national security. His testimony was then acknowledged by the chair.
former Representative Addis — Was thanked for being present and for comments on the bill.
James Petsky, District 21, Meridian — Representative Petsky introduces himself and explains the bill's purpose.
Ms. Westbrook / Sarah Westbrook — Invited to testify as the lone sign-up.
Sarah Westbrook — Testified on behalf of the Idaho Association of Counties and noted it was her first time testifying this year.
Ms. Westbrook — Addressed directly by the senator during discussion of unpaid traffic fines.
Mr. Westbrook — The committee thanks Mr. Westbrook for his testimony and appreciates his time.
Doug Okuniewicz — Doug Okuniewicz is repeatedly addressed as chair during the final procedural exchanges, including questions and the transition to House Bill 717, then votes aye before delivering closing remarks thanking the committee and adjourning the meeting.
Josh Keyser — The chair announces that Vice Chair Kaiser will take over the meeting and then formally hands the proceedings over to him.
Josh Keyser — Asked about the son-in-law example and the state involved.
Josh Keyser — Votes nay on the motion.
Ben Adams — Senator Ben Adams participates in the approval of meeting minutes, first seconding a motion to approve the March 12 minutes and then moving approval of the March 17, 2026 minutes.
Ben Adams — Ben Adams engages in a sustained discussion about enforcement of unpaid traffic fines and the bill’s approach to collections. He questions why the state is not using collection mechanisms more aggressively, asks whether collections damage credit ratings, and then offers a substitute motion to hold House Bill 927 in committee. In support of that motion, he argues that people should not lose their licenses over unpaid fees, says collection agencies can pursue the money instead, and shares a personal story from when he was 19 and had his license suspended after a speeding ticket payment was allegedly not received. He concludes by reiterating that the prior policy was bad and that unpaid fees should be pursued through collections rather than license suspension.