Committee forwards HB 98 to floor after heated hearing on use of taxpayer resources for teacher‑union activities

Representative Judy Boyle introduced House Bill 98 to the House State Affairs Committee, saying the bill ‘‘will just ensure that taxpayer dollars do not go to fund teacher unions.’’ Boyle presented the measure as a prohibition on districts using public resources — including payroll deductions and paid release time — to support union activities.

"There are exceptions," Boyle told the committee, listing negotiated unpaid leave, personal leave and district reimbursement by unions as allowed alternatives. She said the bill would bar districts from deducting union dues and from providing personal contact information to unions without consent; it would also impose civil penalties on districts that violate the section.

Supporters of the bill argued it draws a clear line between taxpayer resources and voluntary union activities. Witnesses who testified in favor included Maxford Nielson of the Freedom Foundation, Jason Mercier of the Non State Policy Center, Rachel Gresler of the Heritage Foundation and Jonathan Butcher of the Heritage Foundation. They said taxpayers should not underwrite union political activity or administrative functions and urged limits on paid release time…