State Representative Jordan Teuscher, the bill's sponsor, argues that collective bargaining agreements hinder workers from engaging directly in contract negotiations.

Republicans argue that unions, often perceived as liberal, do not adequately represent conservative teachers' views.

Educators perceive this bill as a tactic by Republicans to diminish the power of teachers unions and further their education policies.

On January 23, 2025, Utah lawmakers advanced a bill that would ban collective bargaining across all public sectors, including education, transit, and law enforcement.

The proposed legislation would prohibit labor unions from negotiating on behalf of workers in education, transit, law enforcement, and other public services.

The measure has passed the House Business, Labor and Commerce Committee with an 11-4 vote, supported by influential Republican leaders including House Speaker Mike Schultz.

In Texas and Georgia, collective bargaining rights are limited to police and firefighters, a restriction also proposed in Utah, raising concerns among firefighters about advocating for safety without union support.

While state employees could still join unions, these organizations would lose the ability to negotiate contracts on their behalf under the new legislation.

The bill has faced opposition from firefighters concerned about their ability to advocate for safety without union representation.

Sara Jones of the Utah Education Association criticized the bill, stating it undermines educators' rights to negotiate for better salaries and working conditions.

Labor expert John Logan describes the bill as extreme, placing Utah among the states with the most restrictive public sector union laws, alongside North and South Carolina.

For decades, collective bargaining has been banned across all public sector jobs in the Carolinas, leading to the lowest union worker percentages in the nation.