Senate Education Committee approves minutes, reappoints Kurt Liebeck to state board and prints RS31894

The Idaho Senate Education Committee approved several procedural and appointment items during a brief session, including approval of previously distributed minutes, confirmation of a gubernatorial reappointment, and a decision to print a proposed cleanup bill.

The committee voted to approve the minutes of Jan. 13, 2025. Senator Woodward moved to approve the minutes; the motion was seconded on the floor and the committee chair called the question. The committee recorded no roll-call vote in the transcript and the chair announced, “Motion carries.”

The committee then considered a gubernatorial reappointment: the reappointment of Kurt Liebeck to the Idaho State Board of Education. The chair noted Liebeck had appeared before the committee at an earlier meeting and had met individually with some members. Senator Woodward moved to approve the reappointment; Senator Ward Engelking seconded the motion. The committee again recorded no roll-call tally in the transcript; the chair called for the ayes and announced, “Motion carries.” The transcript does not specify the new term dates for this reappointment on the record.

Later in the meeting, Senator Cindy Carlson presented RS31894 and described it as a cleanup bill related to last year’s legislation on public comment at school board meetings. Carlson said the bill would remove a sentence from the prior statute to “clear it up,” and asked the committee to print the RS for consideration and discussion. Senator Woodward moved to print RS31894; a senator seconded, and the committee approved the motion after the chair called the question. The transcript records the chair’s announcement, “Motion carries.” Several senators voiced cautious interest in further discussion to ensure the change would not remove needed limits on public comment; one senator said she was “a little worried that taking this out, we go back to maybe a free for all.” The chair and proponents said the bill would be printed so it could be discussed at future hearings.

No roll-call tallies or recorded dissenting recorded votes are included in the transcript for these actions; motions were handled by voice vote and the chair announced the results. Where a specific mover or seconder is named in the transcript, that person is recorded below in the actions section. The Committee adjourned and said it will meet again on the next scheduled Monday at 3:00 p.m., per the recorded remarks.