Idaho Legislature – VOTE YES on H0745 - Government unions (Posted: 02/24/26)

• Link: legislature.idaho.gov/s…

• See bill link above for current status and committee assignment

• See Idaho Insider for links where you can send group emails based on current status and committee assignment: gemstatechronicle.com/l…

📌H0745 (this bill) replaces H0601.

• Grok Comparison of H0601 (older) vs. H0745 (this bill): grok.com/share/c2hhcmQt…

  (CB in Grok’s comparison refers to “collective bargaining.”)

Summary (ai assisted)

Grok analysis link: grok.com/share/c2hhcmQt…

H0745 prohibits taxpayer funding for government unions except in limited cases. (No fiscal impact, no Constitutional conflicts.)

Declaration of Policy Public employees may join organizations to advance interests. Collective bargaining with government is political. Government operations determined by elected representatives. Public funds may not be used to aid government unions except where needed to deliver uninterrupted delivery of critical emergency services by first responders.

Definitions

• Affiliate: Organizations linked to government unions via governance or funds.

• Collective bargaining agreement: Written agreements on compensation, benefits, terms of employment.

• Government union: Entities representing public employees in bargaining.

• Government union activities: Political support, legislation influence, membership promotion, bargaining, grievances.

• Public employee: Employees of public employers, excluding elected officials.

• Public employer: State agencies, municipalities, school districts; excludes certain authorities, cities, counties.

• Representational activities: Grievances, investigations, bargaining, administration.

Taxpayer Funding Prohibited No public employer may use taxpayer funds to:

• Deduct union dues from pay.

• Increase compensation for union payments.

• Share extra employee information without authorization.

• Require employee interaction with unions.

• Distribute union communications.

• Contribute funds to unions.

• Provide paid leave for union activities, except under specific conditions.

If in collective bargaining agreement:

• Unpaid time off allowed, unions may compensate.

• Use of personal leave permitted if accrued equally.

• Representational activities on duty if unions reimburse employer.

Enforcement and Penalties

• Violations: Civil penalties up to $250; knowing violations up to $1,500; repeat up to $2,500.

• Attorney general or county prosecutor investigates and enforces.

Application: Does not authorize new bargaining, limit firefighters' rights, city rights, or violate federal transit laws.

Amendments to Section 33-513: Removes provision on attending state teachers association meetings.

Amendments to Section 33-1275: No taxpayer funding for unions; violating provisions are void.

Reason for Recommendation to VOTE YES

Public employee unions have an outsize effect on politics. Their power reaches far and wide. They espouse political positions, encourage members to vote a certain way (even to join certain political parties in order to influence votes), often represent union bosses to the detriment of union members, and even force employees to attend meetings on taxpayer-funded time.

Taxpayers should not be funding public employee unions. Unions are free to assess dues to their members, who should join voluntarily, but taxpayer must not subsidize these dues.

We don’t care what political positions the unions espouse. The principles are the same: Unions are special interest membership organizations, must be completely voluntary, and must remain independent of taxpayer funding. Union members and bosses can think or say what they want, but not at taxpayer expense.

Please vote YES.

Related

• H0601 - Government unions (Substack Note): tinyurl.com/2p9mbhcs

• Idaho Legislature 2026 Bills to Support or Oppose: tinyurl.com/yc2jpkeh