Lawmakers raced through bill limiting Idaho teachers unions. The governor acted
Gov. Brad Little signed a bill into law Friday that will place limits on teachers unions in Idaho.
The bill spurred controversy when a small group of state senators bypassed the normal legislative process and replaced the language in House Bill 516, which previously addressed instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation, with new language on teachers unions. The measure was similar to another bill that stalled in the Senate, and to other bills introduced in past years.
Both chambers then passed the bill within days, without public hearings, and sent it to the governor’s desk.
Little said in a transmittal letter explaining his decision that he has made education a “top priority” since he became governor, and has “deep respect” for public school teachers. He also “strongly supports” their ability to advocate for themselves and their profession, he wrote.
“However, while local and state teachers’ associations do important work, they remain private organizations that currently receive taxpayer-funded support not extended to other private entities. (This amended) bill addresses that imbalance,” Little said.
The governor also acknowledged the new law will “lead to increased scrutiny of a teacher’s actions” based on affiliation with the union. It also may have a “chilling effect” on school districts’ willingness to work collaboratively with the unions on professional development and charitable work in their communities, Little said.
The bill’s intent is to ensure no taxpayer dollars go to teachers union activities, lawmakers said.
Under the bill, school districts will be barred from deducting dues or fees from employees’ paychecks; requiring or “coercing” an employee to meet, communicate or interact with a teachers union; distributing communications on behalf of the union; or providing any kind of compensation or paid leave to employees to engage with the teachers union.
Supporters of the bill said it doesn’t mean teachers can’t still participate in their unions and take part in union activities. It’s simply an effort to prevent them from using taxpayer dollars, supporters said. Opponents argued the bill was an attempt to damage teachers unions. Some said bills like this would make it even harder to recruit and retain good teachers in Idaho. Others questioned why the bill specifically targeted teachers unions and not other unions.
In the days since the Legislature passed the bill, the Idaho Education Association had encouraged people to contact the governor’s office to ask for a veto.
“HB 516 could significantly diminish Idaho Education Association’s organizing efforts and ability to communicate with members,” the Idaho Education Association wrote on its website.
The union has been around for over a century and isn’t going anywhere, IEA spokesperson Mike Journee previously told the Idaho Statesman. This bill, he said, is the “capstone” of a long effort to undermine public education through attacking teachers and unions.
“And our members are going to continue fighting for their students and for public education, and nothing that the Idaho Legislature is going to do is going to change that,” Journee said.
Now with the governor’s signature, the law will take effect July 1. Little in his letter encouraged the Legislature to continue working on some of the “overly broad and ambiguous” language included in the law in future years.
On Friday evening, after Little announced the bill is now law, IEA President Layne McInelly issued a blistering statement that labeled the legislation a clear attack on teachers unions.
“Gov. Little claims the mantle of a public education supporter, but he just signed a bill that could cement his legacy as anything but. In the eyes of public education’s most ardent and dedicated advocates for students and public schools — IEA’s members — he has certainly forfeited that claim,” McInelly said.
“Unfortunately, he ignored his better angels, signed this terrible bill into law, and waited to reveal that until Friday at 5 p.m. — a time designed to avoid the spotlight,” his statement continued. “Disappointing doesn’t even begin to describe his actions nor the entire process by which this attack on educators came to be. Idaho’s students and the dedicated professionals who teach them will be worse off because of his choice.
“They deserve better.”
Reporter Kevin Fixler contributed.
This story was originally published April 10, 2026 at 5:33 PM.
