DeSantis Signs Law Hiking Teacher Union Dues, Vote Thresholds

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation Wednesday that sets stricter membership and dues thresholds for public employee unions — a change that could force teacher unions across Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties to fight to keep their certifications starting this summer.

The new law, SB 1296, takes effect July 1 and rewrites the rules governing how public employee unions survive. Under the measure, at least 50% of workers in a bargaining unit must participate in certification, recertification, and decertification elections. Separately, if fewer than 60% of a unit's members pay dues, the union must petition the state for recertification — a bureaucratic hurdle that could repeatedly drain union resources and time. Unions that fail to meet either threshold risk decertification.

The stakes are immediate for the roughly 120,000 members of the Florida Education Association — the statewide body that includes local teacher unions on the Treasure Coast. The FEA condemned the signing, which DeSantis held on May 1, International Workers' Day.

"Gov. Ron DeSantis and anti-union, anti-worker legislators have focused on chipping away at the constitutionally enshrined rights of thousands of workers in the state," the FEA said in a statement.

DeSantis defended the measure at a Tallahassee news conference, framing it as a democratic accountability check on organizations he argued lack member support. "You should not have these entities operating if they do not have support from the people they purport to represent," he said.

Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas, who stood alongside DeSantis at the signing, echoed that argument. "If teachers think their union is worth keeping, a majority can show up for the vote," Kamoutsas said.

The law carves out an exemption for public safety unions representing police officers and firefighters, which DeSantis has consistently supported. Critics said that distinction exposed the legislation as politically targeted rather than a uniform reform.

DeSantis also signed HB 1279, a sweeping K-12 and higher education bill, at the same event. That measure includes a $50-per-student bonus for teachers of advanced courses when students reach a minimum state assessment score and a $500 bonus for teachers at D- or F-rated schools if at least one student hits that benchmark. The bill also requires school districts to notify parents in writing within 10 days when an IEP service is not delivered to their child.

Both laws take effect July 1.

This article was generated with AI assistance using publicly available information. It was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication. TC Sentinel uses AI writing tools in accordance with FTC guidelines.