HB313 • 2026

EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

An Act relating to professional employee organizations in public schools; and providing for an effective date.

Education Labor

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE BY REQUEST
Last action: 2026-02-18
Official status: (H) EDC
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific information about the consequences of non-compliance, management strategies for handling multiple group requests, or enforcement mechanisms and penalties.

Rules for Employee Groups in Public Schools

This act sets rules about how professional employee groups can use school resources and participate in events.

What This Bill Does

Requires schools to give equal access to facilities or communication systems if one group is allowed to use them.
Requires schools to allow any professional employee organization to join new employee orientations or meetings if they ask to do so.
Prohibits schools from using the names of employee groups for special days, holidays, or breaks in their calendars.
Forbids schools from giving one group exclusive access to school facilities or communication systems.

Who It Names or Affects

School districts and professional employee organizations in public schools.

Terms To Know

Professional Employee Organization: An organization of professional employees that has as its primary purpose the improvement of instruction and the professional status of its members.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if a school district fails to follow these rules.
It's unclear how schools will manage equal access requests from multiple groups.
There are no details on enforcement or penalties for non-compliance.

Bill History

2026-02-18 1644
(H) REFERRED TO EDUCATION
2026-02-18 1644
(H) EDC, L&C
2026-02-18 1644
(H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Official Summary Text

EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
An Act relating to professional employee organizations in public schools; and providing for an effective date.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB0313a -1- HB 313
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS1445\N

HOUSE BILL NO. 313

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION

BY REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE BY REQUEST

Introduced: 2/18/26
Referred: Education, Labor and Commerce

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to professional employee organizations in public schools; and 1
providing for an effective date." 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 3
* Section 1. AS 14.20 is amended by adding a new section to read: 4
Article 8. Professional Employee Organizations. 5
Sec. 14.20.700. Restrictions relating to professional employee 6
organizations in public schools. (a) If the governing body of a school district allows 7
a professional employee organization to 8
(1) use school facilities or school communication systems, including 9
physical or electronic mailboxes, to communicate with or recruit members, the 10
governing body shall allow any professional employee organization equal access upon 11
the request of the organization; 12
(2) attend or participate in an orientation or meeting for new or 13
existing employees, the governing body shall allow any professional employee 14
34-LS1445\N
HB 313 -2- HB0313a
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

organization an equal opportunity to participate in the orientation or meeting upon the 1
request of the organization. 2
(b) The governing body of a school district may not 3
(1) use the name or acronym of a professional employee organization 4
to identify a special day, school holiday, or school break on a school district calendar; 5
or 6
(2) grant exclusive access to school facilities or communication 7
systems to a professional employee organization. 8
(c) In this section, "professional employee organization" or "organization" 9
means an organization of professional employees that has as its primary purpose the 10
improvement of instruction and the professional status of its members. 11
* Sec. 2. This Act takes effect July 1, 2026. 12