ATPE members exercised their teacher voices Tuesday in the Senate Business and Commerce Committee, where Senate Bill (SB) 2330 by Sen. Tan Parker (R–Flower Mound), a bill that would take away associations’ ability to deduct dues from their members’ paychecks, was heard. Parker claimed to have filed the bill in order to “return government to its proper role.” He said government should not be involved with collecting association dues and that in modern times, it shouldn’t be a problem for associations to collect those dues via credit card, unless apparently you are a police, fire or EMS union. Parker claimed the intent of his bill was not to harm teacher associations but simply to remove government from the dues collection process. 

ATPE Executive Director Dr. Shannon Holmes, ATPE Immediate Past President Jayne Serna, and ATPE member Lena Angel testified in person against the bill, while ATPE member Dani Boepple and ATPE Governmental Relations Director Monty Exter submitted written testimony. Holmes testified that the bill needlessly removes a payment method preferred by many of our members for their dues payments, that the bill unfairly singles out educators, and that the bill’s clear intent is to silence educator voices. He asked that the committee not move the legislation forward. Sen. Jose Menendez (D–San Antonio) asked Holmes a question about what message the bill sends to educators at a time when the Senate is also contemplating a teacher “bill of rights” and a pay raise.  Holmes said that he felt the bill’s message is that educator voices are not welcome in the building. Sen. Robert Nichols (R–Jacksonville) seemed frustrated by the legislation, reminding committee members that the bill has come up multiple times, as well as saying that we should treat all associations the same. He pointed out that first responder unions were exempt from this bill. Sen. Nathan Johnson (D–Dallas) shared that there is negligible cost to the state for payroll deduction and expressed frustration and disbelief that the government would take away this service from hard-working educators. Watch Holmes’ testimony and his exchanges with legislators here. 

ATPE Immediate Past President Jayne Serna testified that the bill seemed to create “protected classes” due to its carve-outs for first responders and that this may raise issues of constitutionality, specifically violating the First and 14th amendments. ATPE member Lena Angel took advantage of her trip to Austin as an ATPE Capitol Expedition participant to testify about how important ATPE has been in her professional career, sharing that educators need associations like ATPE because they don’t have time to advocate for themselves. Watch Serna’s and Angel’s testimony here. 

ATPE turned in written testimony as well, pointing out that educators choose to have their association dues payroll-deducted of their own free will; that payroll deduction is safe and does not pass a cost to taxpayers; and that barring payroll deduction could raise constitutional concerns about viewpoint suppression. 

SB 2330 was left pending in committee.