HF2896

HF2896 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Union members who are teachers allowed to allocate union dues to the local, state, or national organization of their choice; and public employees who are teachers required to be notified of their rights under state and federal law.

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

This bill is designed to give teachers, especially those in unions, more control over where their union dues go. It also ensures that teachers are informed of their rights regarding union membership and dues.

Main Provisions

Freedom to Allocate Dues: Teachers who are part of a union can choose to allocate their union dues to a local, state, or national organization of their choice. This means they are no longer obligated to contribute solely to their immediate union's fund.
Notification Requirements: The bill mandates that unions inform teachers about their rights to allocate dues and that federal laws prevent compelling union membership or dues payment.
Payroll Deduction Authorization: Both private and public employers are required to offer payroll deductions for union dues based on the teacher’s choice. Teachers can request automatic deductions from their paycheck for the organization they prefer.
Employer Responsibilities: Public employers must rely on a union or exclusive representative's certification for payroll deductions and are required to start deductions within 30 days of such certification. They must also remit these deductions in a timely manner. If a dispute arises regarding unauthorized deductions, the exclusive representative must cover any legal fees.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Amended Statutes: The bill amends several Minnesota statutes, including provisions dealing with the allocation of union dues and payroll deductions (sections 10A.12, 179A.06, and 181.06).
Explicit Choice for Teachers: Formerly, union dues were automatically allocated to the relevant union entity, but this bill provides teachers with explicit choice and flexibility.
Notification of Rights: Requires that teachers be informed that they cannot be forced to join a union or pay dues, which was not explicitly required before.

Relevant Terms

union members, teachers, union dues, payroll deduction, public employees, exclusive representative, rights notification, labor organization, deduction authorization, union membership rights.

Bill text versions

Introduction PDF file

Actions

Date	Chamber	Where	Type	Name	Committee Name
March 26, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Introduction and first reading, referred to	Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Citations

[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Grants private teachers the choice to allocate their union dues to their preferred level of organization (local, state, or national)."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill modifies how unions can allocate dues and membership fees to political funds under section 10A.12.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "10A.12",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 5"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Public employers must provide payroll deduction according to the public employees request.",
        "Grants teachers a choice for allocation of union dues."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This legislation updates payroll deduction authorizations for public employees under section 179A.06.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "179A.06",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 6"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Specifies that disputes must be resolved through an unfair labor practice proceeding."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Relates to dispute resolution for disagreements arising from payroll deduction authorizations under section 179A.06.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "179A.13",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Includes stipulation for private sector employers to make deductions to a nonlab organization upon employee request."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Modifies payroll deduction contracts between employers and employees under section 181.06.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "181.06",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "References relief associations for membership due deductions under section 181.06.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "424A.091 to 424A.096",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Mentioned in the context of payroll deductions for gopher state bonds under section 181.06.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "16A.645",
    "subdivision": ""
  }
]