States split on teacher strike bans — Arizona vs. Maryland
Arizona HB 2313 cuts school funding, Maryland HB 1492 would legalize strikes
Arizona HB 2313 cuts school funding, Maryland HB 1492 would legalize strikes
Arizona House Bill 2313 was introduced as a striker amendment by House Education Committee Chairman Matt Gress, a Republican from Scottsdale, and Senate Education Committee Chairwoman Hildy Angius, a Republican from Mesquite. A striker amendment replaces the entire text and purpose of an existing bill to speed its progress through the legislature. The committee voted 7-4 to move the bill forward on Feb. 17, 2026 Arizona Mirror.
The bill makes it unlawful for teachers at public schools and charter schools to strike or engage in any organized work stoppage. Teachers who participate in a coordinated walkout lose their civil service protections, reemployment rights, and other employment benefits associated with public school employment. The penalty applies only when two or more employees act together, not to individual absences. Separately, the bill requires the Arizona Department of Education to reduce a school's state funding if it shifts to remote instruction because of an organized work stoppage. That second provision means both individual teachers and the school district face consequences.
Essential concepts and terms to understand this topic
Services provided by government to citizens.
Chief executive officer of a state government.
The upper chamber of Congress with 100 members (two per state) serving six-year staggered terms.
Influence and authority at the community level.
Legal provision allowing individuals to sue in court to enforce their rights under a statute.
Governmental structure and administration at the state level.
Presidential authority to reject legislation passed by Congress
Financial resources for public education from taxes and other sources.
Channels of communication that distribute information to the public.
First 10 amendments protecting individual liberties.
The legal question of whether government workers can legally walk off the job.
The process by which workers negotiate wages, hours, and conditions with employers through union representatives.

Maryland Delegate (D); lead sponsor, HB 1492
Ebersole sponsored Maryland House Bill 1492, which would give public school teachers and librarians the right to strike without retaliation. The bill was co-sponsored by more than 20 Democratic colleagues and was heard by the House Government, Labor and Elections Committee on March 11, 2026. Maryland is one of 37 states that prohibit public sector employees from striking. Ebersole's bill would make Maryland the first Mid-Atlantic state to formally authorize teacher strikes.

Arizona State Senator, Senate Education Committee Chairwoman
Angius co-introduced HB 2313 and the broader HCR 2040 ballot referral. As Senate Education Chairwoman, she holds gate-keeping power over education legislation in the Arizona Senate and has championed restricting teachers' collective action.

Governor of Arizona
Hobbs has repeatedly vetoed anti-teacher and anti-union legislation. HB 2313 would land on her desk and face a likely veto. The companion HCR 2040 bypasses her entirely by going directly to voters — a deliberate legislative strategy to circumvent her veto power.

President, Arizona Education Association
Garcia is the lead opponent of HB 2313. She argues it unconstitutionally restricts teachers' First Amendment rights and will accelerate Arizona's teacher exodus. She has highlighted that Arizona's 48th-in-the-nation per-pupil spending is the root cause of teacher discontent that the bill ignores entirely.
Arizona State Representative, House Education Committee Chairman
Gress co-introduced HB 2313 in February 2026, citing the Tucson sick-outs as the immediate trigger. He argued the bill doesn't limit free speech but prevents coordinated closures of publicly funded schools. As Education Committee Chairman, he controls which education bills advance in the Arizona House.
Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction
Horne supports HB 2313, arguing that teachers have a First Amendment right to protest but should do so after school hours, not during instructional time paid for by taxpayers. His backing gives the bill a powerful administrative voice.
True
Arizona ranks 48th in the nation in per-pupil spending.
Arizona Education Association President Marisol Garcia stated this figure in February 2026 press statements, consistent with National Education Association annual rankings of per-pupil spending.
Sources
True
More than 1,000 Arizona teachers left the profession in the 2025-2026 school year.
An Arizona Department of Education report from September 2025 confirmed more than 1,000 teachers left the profession, with 763 quitting before the school year started.
Sources
True
Roughly 38 states ban or heavily restrict teacher strikes.
Multiple independent sources consistently cite the 38-state figure. The National Labor Relations Act excludes public employees, giving states authority to set their own rules.
Sources
Contact your Arizona state representative about HB 2313
If you live in Arizona, your state representative has a direct vote on HB 2313. The bill would cut school funding as a penalty for teacher work stoppages.
Contact your Maryland state delegate about HB 1492
Maryland's House Bill 1492 would repeal the state's ban on teacher strikes. If you support expanding teacher labor rights in Maryland, your state delegate can influence whether the bill advances.
Look up your state's teacher strike law
Strike rights for teachers vary dramatically by state. The Education Commission of the States maintains up-to-date summaries of which states allow, restrict, or ban teacher strikes.