Arizona voters to decide on measure curtailing taxpayer support for teachers’ unions

Late last week, the Arizona Legislature passed House Concurrent Resolution 2040, a Freedom Foundation-backed measure that would prohibit public school districts from using taxpayer resources to support union organizing activities.

The vote came after a tense all-night session to close out the 2026 legislative year, with the Senate beating back a premature motion to adjourn sine die and the House floor erupting in heated debate before members voted to send the measure to voters.

HCR 2040 would prohibit union members from using school email systems and equipment to recruit members or distribute union materials, end automatic payroll deductions for union dues and bar union meetings from being held on school property while students are present. Employees would also have the right to bargain on their own behalf if they are unsatisfied with a union-negotiated contract.

“Teachers’ unions have long counted on government resources to do their organizing for them,” said Aaron Withe, CEO of the Freedom Foundation. “Arizona voters will now have the chance to weigh in on whether taxpayer resources should be funding union politics in public schools.”

The Freedom Foundation has long noted how public-sector unions exploit government resources to advance their political agenda and has actively supported HCR 2040 throughout the legislative process.

“We’ve documented these practices for years,” added Rusty Brown, Freedom Foundation special projects director. “Using school equipment, school email and school property to recruit union members is an abuse of taxpayer resources. Now voters get to make the final call.”

HCR 2040 gives Arizona voters the chance to halt the misuse of taxpayer-funded resources in their public schools.