Idaho Senate confirms multiple gubernatorial appointments, adopts rules resolutions and passes statutory fix bill

BOISE, Idaho — The Idaho Senate on Feb. 5 confirmed a slate of gubernatorial appointments to state boards and commissions, approved two committee-reviewed rules resolutions and unanimously passed a bill that corrects statutory references in state law.

The confirmations included Linda Mitchell to the Lake Pend Oreille Basin Commission; Tara Malek to the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange Board; B.J. Stinger to the Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired; Trevor Sparrow as the Office of Health and Social Services ombudsman; Lee Henrich to the Board of Tax Appeals; Joseph (Joe) Forney to the Idaho Endowment Fund Investment Board; and Ronald Davies to the Idaho Fish and Game Commission. The Senate also adopted Senate Resolution 102 and Senate Resolution 103, which report committee review and approval of temporary or pending administrative rules. In a separate vote the Senate passed Senate Bill 10‑37, which corrects cross‑references in Idaho Code to align section 66‑906 with the revised Unclaimed Property Act.

Why it matters: The confirmations fill seats on boards that oversee natural resources, tax appeals, health and social services oversight, and state investment of endowment proceeds. The resolutions are routine committee approvals of agency rules. Senate Bill 10‑37 makes technical statutory corrections intended to reconcile outdated cross‑references after a recent rewrite of Title 14, Chapter 5 of Idaho Code.

Confirmations and committee actions Senators moved and adopted committee reports to confirm each appointee. Senator Woodward presented the committee report and moved adoption for Linda Mitchell, noting her long-standing service in the Sandpoint community and experience with lake issues; the motion carried by voice vote. Senator Semleroth presented Tara Malek’s nomination to the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange Board and the report was adopted by voice vote after brief remarks. Senator Rudnicki presented the reappointment of B.J. Stinger to the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired; the report was adopted by voice vote. Senator Hart presented Trevor Sparrow’s appointment as the health and social services ombudsman and the report was adopted by voice vote. Senator Zito presented Lee Henrich’s nomination to the Board of Tax Appeals and Ronald Davies’s reappointment to the Fish and Game Commission; both committee reports were adopted by voice vote. Senator Rudkey presented Joseph Forney’s reappointment to the Idaho Endowment Fund Investment Board; the committee report was adopted by voice vote.

Officials filed correspondence in the secretary’s office after each adopted report and the Senate directed notification to the governor as customary.

Administrative rules resolutions The Senate adopted Senate Resolution 102 (Local Government and Taxation Committee) and Senate Resolution 103 (Transportation Committee). Both resolutions state the respective committee findings that pending or temporary rules had been reviewed and approved by the committee; each was adopted by voice vote and filed in the office of the secretary.

Passage of Senate Bill 10‑37 Senate Bill 10‑37, sponsored by the State Affairs Committee, passed the Senate on a roll-call vote. The bill makes two ministerial changes to Idaho Code section 66‑906 to correct an outdated cross-reference resulting from the 2024 repeal and replacement of Title 14, Chapter 5 (the Unclaimed Property Act). The correction changes an incorrect reference to section 14‑513 to the intended section 14‑5‑201(1) and removes struck language that conflicted with the revised unclaimed property law after consultation with the Idaho State Treasurer’s Office. The roll call on SB 10‑37 recorded 35 yeas, 0 nays; the bill will be transmitted to the House for consideration.

Process notes and context Most confirmations and the rules resolutions were adopted following committee reports and brief introductions from the sponsoring senators; discussion consisted of nominee biographies and statements of support. The appointment of the ombudsman position was noted as a new post in the Department of Health and Welfare. Several nominations were held for one legislative day where requested; others were acted on immediately. The actions taken are routine confirmations and technical fixes; no new budget appropriations or policy changes were enacted on the floor during this session.

Looking ahead The Senate adjourned to reconvene at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 6. Additional bills heard in committee were referred to appropriate committees or to future reading calendars as recorded on the floor.