Bill > HB1506

This bill amends Arkansas law to prohibit public employers from deducting labor organization membership dues from most public employees' compensation. The bill provides detailed definitions for key terms such as "labor organization" (including labor unions and professional employee associations), "public employee" (anyone working for wages for a public employer), and "public employer" (which encompasses state agencies, higher education institutions, courts, and local government entities). The bill creates an important exception for public safety employees, who can still have labor organization dues deducted from their compensation. Public safety employees are defined broadly to include those with arrest powers, emergency responders, military personnel, and employees who support these functions. By restricting dues deductions for most public employees, the bill aims to limit the financial resources of labor organizations and potentially weaken their ability to represent workers in negotiations with public employers. The bill specifically references tax codes and sets a reference date of January 1, 2025, for defining labor organizations.

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https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=hb1506&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R