House State Affairs advances bill barring taxpayer‑funded support for teacher unions

Representative Judy Boyle, R‑District 9, presented House Bill 98 to the House State Affairs Committee, saying the measure would "ensure that taxpayer dollars do not go to fund teacher unions." Boyle asked the committee to prohibit districts from using public payroll, paid release time, facilities or communications to facilitate union activity unless explicitly authorized by exception.

"They can still do whatever they want with their funds as long as they don't use them to support unions," Boyle said, identifying several exceptions in the draft: negotiated unpaid leave or benefits, personal leave, and union reimbursement of district costs.

What the bill would do: According to the sponsor's presentation, HB98 would bar districts from (among other items) withholding union dues via district payroll, providing paid release time for union duties at taxpayer expense, distributing membership solicitations, sharing personal contact information that the union could not access through public records, and increasing employee compensation "with the intent that the additional compensation ... be used to pay teacher union or affiliate dues." Boyle said the bill includes civil penalties for violations that begin at $250 and escalate to $2,500 for repeat offenses, and also forbids…