Idaho bill to defund teachers’ unions awaiting governor’s signature

The Idaho Legislature has passed a bill prohibiting teachers’ unions from receiving public funding.

HB 516 makes it illegal to “require or permit a school district, including specially chartered districts, to use taxpayer funds to promote a teachers union or its affiliate.”

Other requirements disentangle union-related activities from public school resources.

The bill is currently awaiting approval from Gov. Brad Little. If signed, it will go into effect July 1.

According to the Freedom Foundation, school districts would no longer be allowed to:

• Use public payroll systems and personnel to deduct union dues from teachers’ paychecks
• Contribute taxpayer funds to a teachers’ union
• Provide teachers with paid leave to engage in union operations and activism
• Require teachers to meet or interact with a teachers’ union if they do not wish to do so
• Distribute communications or membership solicitations on behalf of a teachers’ union

“For decades, the Idaho Education Association has enjoyed special treatment and taxpayer-funded perks unavailable to any other advocacy group in the state,” said Maxford Nelsen, Freedom Foundation’s government affairs director.

“It’s high time Idaho stopped taxpayer funds and government resources from underwriting this private, political special-interest group.”

The Idaho Education Association opposed HB 516, arguing it “places an extraordinary number of restrictions on only IEA members.”

Some of IEA’s complaints included not being able to schedule union meetings during work breaks and not being able to contact teachers through their work emails.

The union also accused the bill of targeting teachers but not other types of public-sector unions.

Sen. Brian Lenney, R-Nampa, one of the bill’s sponsors, criticized the IEA and its national affiliate, the National Education Association, for focusing too much on political lobbying.

“[HB 516] simply does one thing and answers the question about whether Idaho taxpayers should be forced to fund the administrative operations of a private, Washington, D.C.-based political organization,” Lenney said.

“We need our teachers directed and focused on teaching literacy, mathematics, not lobbying, not working on social issues,” agreed Sen. Ben Toews, R-Coeur d’Alene.

The NEA has been criticized for spending millions on far-left political causes including pro-abortion, pro-LGBT and pro-Democrat groups.

However, one Democrat lawmaker opposed HB 516, arguing the IEA and its teachers are effectively the parents of Idaho children.

“IEA is made up of your local teachers,” said Sen. Janie Ward-Engelking, D-Boise. “When we are teaching, we stand instead of parents. When your children walk into our classroom, they become ours, and we listen to their fears. We dry their tears. We celebrate their successes, and yes, we find a new way when they fail.”