A plan to disentangle state resources from the collection of partisan union dues is working its way through the Oklahoma State Legislature, and could be enshrined in state law within weeks.
Legislation that would prohibit school districts from deducting union dues from teacher paychecks passed through the Oklahoma State Senate Committee on Education with overwhelming support. After its passage and approval, Senate Bill 1625 would immediately prevent school districts from making payroll deductions for professional organization dues or political contributions.
Legislation removing the state as a dues collector for teacher unions passed into Florida law in 2023, and similar legislative efforts are underway in Utah.
The Institute for Educational Reform issued the following statement of support for Senator Seyfried’s bill: “SB 1625 is a necessary step towards freeing schools from the role of bagman for teacher unions. Taxpayers fund public schools to educate children, not to make it easier for unions to engage in partisan politics with teachers’ paychecks. Senator Seifried’s legislation is a common sense reform that should be embraced by education-focused lawmakers in Oklahoma and across the country.”