Senate Health and Welfare Committee sets schedule for administrative-rule reviews and gubernatorial appointment votes

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee met for its first 2025-session meeting and set a schedule for reviewing administrative rules and processing gubernatorial appointments.

Madam Chair opened the meeting, introduced the committee’s secretary and page, and told members the committee will begin rule reviews next week. Rebecca Koslowski, the committee secretary, introduced herself as a recent college graduate and said she was "very excited to work with you." Abigail Williams, the session page, said she is a high school student from Oakley, Idaho, and that she was "so excited to be a senate page here and learn how the government actually works."

The committee will receive administrative-rule packets from the Department of Health and Welfare, the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) and the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Senator Bierke told members the committee has three main charges this session: gubernatorial appointments, administrative rules and legislation. Bierke said members should do "due diligence" in reviewing posted rule dockets and suggested the committee could consider voting after presentation or vote the same day, noting his preference that the committee could "go through those dockets, on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week and actually be able to vote that day."

Senator Ziderfeld asked that members be given enough time to read rules before voting and recommended allowing a period after presentations to review materials if members had not had time to read them in advance. Senator Wintrow asked whether the rules were already posted online; the chair confirmed they had been posted to the administrative rules website. The committee discussed the limited scope of its authority over administrative rules: members may approve or reject rules, and changes to rules are constrained; the chair said the committee can "take things out of them," but generally cannot add provisions.

On gubernatorial appointments, Senator Bierke said appointee names have been read "across the desk" and that packets with applicants' information will be provided when the appointees appear before the committee. He said nominees will present to the committee on their appearance day and that the committee will not vote on appointments until the following day to allow members time for questions and consideration. Bierke also noted that members should identify if they intend to carry particular appointments or bills on the Senate floor so the committee can manage floor sponsorship before items leave the committee.

The chair closed the meeting by reminding members of next week’s rule presentations and appointments and adjourning the session.