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Hearing on HB 2091 Focuses on Aligning State Employer Reporting With Other Public Employers
Summary
Sponsors and union witnesses told the committee HB 2091 would close a gap left by 2023 reforms and require state agencies to provide bargaining-unit contact information to unions; committee deferred action on 2091 earlier but later heard testimony from union representatives.
The committee heard testimony on House Bill 2091, which would extend to state employers the existing requirement that public employers provide bargaining representatives with employee contact information. Staff explained the bill aligns 41.80 employers with the reporting already required of cities, counties, school districts and other political subdivisions.
Sponsor Rep. Julia Reed (LD 36) described HB 2091 as a "good little bill" to ensure unions representing state employees receive the same timely contact reports that other public-sector unions get.
Union witnesses including a WPEA organizer and Kurt Spiegel (described on the record as executive director of WOSI) said the lack of reliable contact information leaves unions unable to reach newly hired employees for time-sensitive rights and bargaining updates. Spiegel told the committee HB 2091 "ensures that exclusive bargaining representatives have the basic information needed to fulfill their representation." Supporters emphasized the bill applies only to employees in a bargaining unit, not all state employees.
The committee initially deferred action on HB 2091 earlier in the meeting, then reopened the hearing to take testimony. No final committee action on HB 2091 was recorded during this session; members indicated they would continue to consider the bill.
