Utah lawmakers are preparing fresh legislation to restrict public employee unions, reviving a battle that could dramatically reshape how the state's largest teachers' union operates. While Republican leaders insist the upcoming bill isn't aimed at the Utah Education Association (UEA), it comes amid escalating tensions over education funding and two high-profile lawsuits that have put the teachers' union at odds with the GOP-controlled Legislature.
The state’s largest teacher’s union angered legislative Republicans by opposing Amendment A, which sought to expand the state’s constitutional framework for public education funding.
Currently, income and corporate tax revenues can only fund public and higher education and certain social service programs. Amendment A sought to expand that earmark, allowing the legislature to use those funds for other budget areas.
After the UEA went to court alleging the ballot language for the proposed amendment was misleading and lawmakers didn’t follow the correct process to notify the public, they abandoned that effort.
The Republican majority was further irked by another lawsuit filed by the UEA challenging Utah’s $82 million private school voucher program, dubbed the Utah Fits All Scholarship. A judge is expected to rule on whether the program is unconstitutional later this month.
Rep. Jordan Teuscher, R-South Jordan, is working on legislation for the upcoming session to “establish appropriate guardrails” on public sector unions.
Teuscher declined to provide details about his legislation, but said it would be similar to HB285 from the 2024 session. That bill sought to require public sector unions to hold a recertification vote every five years and required members wanting dues deducted from their paychecks to opt in.
Teuscher couldn’t garner enough support for the legislation last year due to massive opposition from Utah labor unions, and it died without a vote in the Utah House.
Teuscher says his bill isn’t meant as retaliation against the UEA.
“To be clear, this is not targeted at the UEA or any specific organization,” Teuscher said in a text message.
If approved, Teuscher’s bill would significantly impact the UEA. However, he says he hasn’t discussed the legislation with the organization, nor does he intend to.
“In the past, I engaged extensively with them, listening to their concerns, discussing issues, and even incorporating their suggestions. However, their continued use of bullying tactics, misleading their members, and spreading misinformation has been deeply troubling. These actions suggest they are more focused on advancing their own agenda than on genuinely supporting Utah’s teachers, students, or the broader education community. Until I see a meaningful change in their approach, I have no intention of meeting with them.”
“I am meeting with other unions and individual public employee union members (including teachers) to ensure a broad and constructive dialogue. My focus remains on creating solutions that protect Utah’s taxpayers, eliminate perverse incentives/needless conflicts, and best serve Utah.”
Utah Education Association President Renée Pinkney doesn’t believe Teuscher’s claim that he’s not exacting revenge on her organization.
“Anti-public education lawmakers claim proposed legislation isn’t targeting the Utah Education Association, but their actions—like excluding UEA leadership from discussions—say otherwise. Trying to sideline public educators’ strongest advocate is a legislative power grab designed to weaken public education,” Pinkney said in a statement to Utah Political Watch.
Pinkney adds excluding her organization from discussions about legislation that would significantly impact members is unacceptable.
“UEA proudly and truthfully advocates for Utah’s 18,000 public educators and the students we serve. Excluding the most established voice for public school educators isn’t about fostering dialogue—it’s about consolidating power at the expense of Utah’s public education system.”
“Utah’s students, public educators, and taxpayers deserve better than political retaliation masquerading as policy.”
Teuscher is meeting with other individuals and organizations to fine-tune his proposal.
Teuscher’s proposal will get a signal boost from the right-wing group Utah Parents United. A non-scientific survey sent to their membership included an entire section on the UEA. Questions included, “Do you believe the UEA represents your values?” and “Do you believe the UEA has a negative influence on education in the state?”
Questions from the Utah Parents United 2025 Legislative Survey
It’s easy to understand the animosity toward the UEA from Utah Parents United. UPU was a driving force behind the passage of Utah’s private school voucher program, which UEA is challenging in court. UPU also advocates for home schooling as an alternative to public education.
The UPU survey included questions about legislation to hamstring the UEA. The proposals, reminiscent of Teuscher’s failed 2024 legislation, include:
- “Would you support legislation that limits special privileges for public labor unions like the UEA, such as automatic payroll deductions for union dues?”
- “Do you believe the UEA should be required to certify and prove their membership?”
- “Do you believe the UEA is transparent enough about their membership and operations?”
- “Would you be more or less likely to vote for a legislator who supported reforms to UEA privileges?”
Corrine Johnson, the UPU founder, says her group plans to present the non-scientific survey results to lawmakers as definitive “proof” of broad public support for their agenda.
“It gives us that data so that when we go to the Legislature, it really helps us to show how important this legislation is to parents in the state of Utah and helps us get those bills passed,” Johnson said during a December meeting with the far-right Utah Citizens for the Constitution.
During the meeting, Johnson made the far-fetched claim that there’s unanimous support for at least one idea from the UPU survey.
“100 percent of parents really want the UEA to not collect union dues through paychecks.”
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