A bill for an act relating to mandatory subjects of negotiation for public employee collective bargaining and including applicability provisions.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jerome Amos and 18 co-sponsors

HF 672 mandates broader negotiation topics for public safety employees while limiting discussions for others, impacting public employees, employers, and unions.

Introduced, referred to Labor and Workforce.

#arbitration #collectivebargaining #publicemployees #unions

Summary of HF 672

Bill Information:
- Bill Number: HF 672
- Title: A bill for an act relating to mandatory subjects of negotiation for public employee collective bargaining and including applicability provisions.
- Status: Introduced, referred to Labor and Workforce.
- Introduced: February 28, 2025
- Classification: Bill
- Subject: Arbitration, Collective Bargaining, Public Employees, Unions

Purpose and Intent

HF 672 aims to amend existing laws regarding collective bargaining for public employees, specifically focusing on the negotiation processes for public safety employees versus other public employee groups. The bill seeks to clarify the mandatory subjects of negotiation and establish guidelines for good faith negotiations between public employers and employee organizations.

Key Provisions

Negotiation Requirements:

For bargaining units with at least 30% public safety employees, the public employer and employee organization must negotiate in good faith on a wide range of topics, including:
- Wages
- Hours
- Vacations
- Insurance
- Holidays
- Leaves of absence
- Shift differentials
- Overtime compensation
- Supplemental pay
- Seniority
- Transfer procedures
- Job classifications
- Health and safety matters
- Evaluation procedures
- Procedures for staff reduction
- In-service training
- Grievance procedures
- Other mutually agreed matters

For bargaining units without at least 30% public safety employees, negotiations will be limited to:

Base wages
Other mutually agreed matters

Interpretation of Mandatory Subjects:

The bill specifies that the mandatory subjects of negotiation should be interpreted narrowly and restrictively, which may limit the scope of negotiations for certain employee groups.

Applicability:

The provisions of this bill will apply to collective bargaining procedures initiated on or after the effective date of the Act.

Impact

Public Employees: The bill primarily affects public employees, particularly those in public safety roles, by establishing clearer guidelines for negotiations and potentially broadening the scope of topics that can be negotiated for these employees.

Public Employers: Public employers will need to adjust their negotiation strategies and processes based on the new requirements outlined in the bill.

Employee Organizations: Unions representing public employees will have to navigate the changes in negotiation topics and the implications of the narrow interpretation of mandatory subjects.

Procedural Aspects

The bill was introduced on February 28, 2025, and has been referred to the Labor and Workforce committee for further consideration. The timeline for further legislative action is yet to be determined.

This summary provides an overview of HF 672, highlighting its purpose, key provisions, and potential impacts on public employee collective bargaining in the state.