Boise, ID—Idaho Gov. Brad Little on April 10 signed into law a Freedom Foundation-supported measure crafted to end taxpayer support for teachers’ unions in the Gem State. 

“Passage of House Bill 516a makes Idaho a national leader in ensuring taxpayer dollars are used for public education and not for politics and activism by the teachers’ unions,” said Freedom Foundation CEO Aaron Withe. “The Freedom Foundation applauds Idaho policymakers for ending the injustice of giving special treatment and government support to a single, controversial, political special interest group at the expense of Idaho taxpayers, students, families, and often even teachers themselves.”

In one of only a handful of transmittal letters accompanying the governor’s bill actions this legislative session, Little wrote:

“…(W)hile local and state teachers’ associations do important work, they remain private organizations that currently receive taxpayer-funded support not extended to other private entities. House Bill 516a addresses that imbalance.”

When the law takes effect on July 1, Idaho school districts will be prohibited from:

• contributing taxpayer funds to a teachers’ union;
• providing teachers with paid leave to engage in union operations and activism, unless the union reimburses the district for the value of the teacher’s time out of the classroom;
• paying teachers’ union dues for them with taxpayer funds;
• using public payroll systems and personnel to deduct union dues from teachers’ paychecks;
• providing more of a teacher’s personal information to a union than is disclosable under the Idaho Public Records Act, unless the teacher authorizes the disclosure;
• requiring teachers to meet or interact with a teachers’ union if they do not wish to do so; and,
• distributing communications or membership solicitations on behalf of a teachers’ union.

Teachers will remain free to form and join unions as they see fit and teachers’ unions will continue to have a legal right to compel districts to collectively bargain.

Legislative champions for the bill included Rep. Judy Boyle (R-Midvale), Sen. Ben Toews (R-Coeur d’Alene), Rep. Dale Hawkins (R-Fernwood), Sen. Cindy Carlson (R-Riggins), Sen. Brian Lenney (R-Nampa) and others.

Additionally, the legislation was supported by a broad coalition including:

• Americans for Prosperity
• Americans for Tax Reform
• Citizens Alliance of Idaho
• Foundation for Government Accountability Action
• Heritage Action for America
• Idaho Family Policy Center
• Idaho Freedom Foundation
• Idaho Republican Party
• Mountain States Policy Center
• National Right to Work Committee

Since 2024, the Freedom Foundation has produced extensive research and commentary addressing taxpayer support for teachers’ unions in Idaho and has supported legislative efforts to end it:

Policy report: Free Ride: How Idaho Tax Dollars Support Teachers Unions

Polling: Idaho voters back proposals to limit taxpayer support for teachers unions

Research and commentary:

• Op-ed: Clark is wrong on Idaho’s teachers’ union reform bill
• Idaho House Passes Freedom Foundation-Backed Bill Ending Taxpayer Support for Teachers Unions
• IEA disrupts Lewiston schools with its anti-conservative “May Matters” campaign
• Idaho schools paying $1.2 million per year for IEA/NEA dues
• IEA’s “May Matters” campaign roils Twin Falls School District
• ISBA distances itself from Idaho teachers union’s anti-GOP campaign—sort of
• Idaho teachers union plots campaign to target conservatives in 2026 primaries
• Analysis: 93 percent of Idaho teachers union political spending benefited Democrats in 2024
• Idaho Education Association joins progressive advocacy group

Founded in Olympia, Wash., as the Evergreen Freedom Foundation in 1991, the Freedom Foundation works to promote individual liberty, free enterprise, and limited, accountable government.

Today, it is spearheading efforts around the country to make government unions more accountable to their members and taxpayers. It is not affiliated with the Idaho Freedom Foundation established in 2009.