House Bill 98 (HB 98) represents a critical step forward in reclaiming Idaho’s education system from the grip of politically driven teachers’ unions. As the Idaho Senate now considers this important legislation, it’s vital to recognize why this bill matters deeply to Idaho taxpayers, families, and educators.
Veteran public school educator Stacey Kinnick recently highlighted a troubling reality: teachers’ unions like the Idaho Education Association (IEA) and the National Education Association (NEA) have become entrenched political entities. While the IEA attempts to mask its partisan nature in Idaho—a state where nearly 70% of voters supported President Trump—the reality is that Idaho taxpayers are still unwittingly subsidizing unions that push a national agenda fundamentally at odds with local values.
The NEA, described by the Wall Street Journal as “the ideological and institutional vanguard of progressive politics,” directs the vast majority of its millions in campaign contributions toward radical left-wing candidates and causes. Kinnick, a veteran public educator from Lewiston, discovered firsthand that her union dues largely supported the NEA’s political activism, not local educational initiatives.
HB 98 targets these abuses directly. The legislation would prohibit Idaho school districts from automatically deducting union dues from teachers’ paychecks, placing responsibility squarely back onto unions to collect their own funds. It would also stop districts from freely allowing union representatives to use taxpayer-funded time and resources for political activism, ensuring taxpayer money goes directly to education—not union politics.
Critics, primarily union officials, label HB 98 as “union-busting.” But the truth is clear: this bill empowers educators and taxpayers. Teachers will retain the right to join unions, but under HB 98, they’ll do so transparently, knowingly, and voluntarily—free from hidden costs or coercion. Districts will no longer provide taxpayer-funded cover for union lobbying, forcing unions to fund their political advocacy with their own money.
The Idaho Education Association’s opposition to HB 98 isn’t surprising. After all, transparency and accountability directly threaten their bottom line. But for educators and families who genuinely prioritize education, HB 98 represents necessary and overdue reform.
Lawmakers should remember one key truth: Idaho taxpayers should never be forced to fund union activism that conflicts with their values. The Senate has an opportunity to make a clear statement—education funding should go directly to classrooms and students, not political advocacy. Passing HB 98 is essential to restoring integrity and transparency to Idaho’s public education system.
