HB0178

Prohibits public employers from deducting union dues and assessments from employee paychecks and requires public employee unions to submit annual financial transparency reports to members.

• Prohibits public employers and their agents from using public funds or facilities to deduct or collect dues, fees, assessments, fines, or contributions from employee paychecks on behalf of labor organizations, political action committees, political organizations, or political committees. (W.S. 27-7-116(a), Sec. 1)
• Requires each labor organization with public employee members to prepare and submit an annual report by February 15 containing membership numbers, revenue collected by category, and itemized expenditures for political activities, legislative influence, litigation, and contractor payments exceeding $5,000. (W.S. 27-7-116(b), Sec. 1)
• Requires labor organizations to distribute annual reports to all members, publish reports on their websites, and make reports available to any person upon request. (W.S. 27-7-116(c), Sec. 1)
• Exempts labor organizations that file federal Form LM-2 reports with the U.S. Department of Labor from preparing and distributing the state annual report. (W.S. 27-7-116(d), Sec. 1)
• Establishes violations of the act as misdemeanors and permits the attorney general or district attorneys to investigate and prosecute violations based on complaints filed by any person. (W.S. 27-7-116(e), W.S. 27-7-116(f), Sec. 1)
• Clarifies that the act does not authorize new collective bargaining rights, prohibit conduct already illegal under state law, require union membership as employment condition, impair firefighter bargaining rights, jeopardize federal transit funding, or prevent employees from voluntarily paying dues directly to unions. (W.S. 27-7-116(g), Sec. 1)
• Adds definitions for 'labor organization,' 'public employee,' 'public employer,' and 'this act' to W.S. 27-7-108, excluding public safety agencies and corporate authorities from the definition of public employer. (W.S. 27-7-108(c), Sec. 2)
• Preserves the validity of any contracts or agreements entered into before the effective date of the act.