HCR 2040 heads to full Senate, would go directly to state’s voters in November.

Phoenix, AZ — The Freedom Foundation today praised the Arizona Senate Government Committee for advancing House Concurrent Resolution 2040, which would prohibit public school districts from using taxpayer resources to support union organizing.

The bill now heads to the Senate floor.

HCR 2040 would bar union members from using school email and equipment to recruit members or distribute union materials, end school payroll deductions for union dues and prohibit union meetings from being held on school property while students are present.

The committee also adopted two amendments during the hearing: one prohibiting strikes by public school employees and another guaranteeing school employees will have the right to bargain on their own behalf if they are unsatisfied with a union negotiated contract.

“Schools are for educating kids, not running union membership drives,” said Rusty Brown, Freedom Foundation special projects director. “Arizona taxpayers are paying for this, and most of them have no idea. That needs to stop.”

The Freedom Foundation has documented for years how public-sector unions exploit government resources to push their political agenda. HCR 2040 would put a stop to the practice in Arizona schools.

Because the measure is a ballot referral, it doesn’t need the governor’s signature. If the Senate passes it, Arizona voters will decide in November.

“Most people’s reaction when they hear this is, ‘Wait, that’s actually happening?'” Brown said. “Yeah, it is. And voters are going to have a chance to put a stop to it.”