An increasing number of states are empowering workers to opt out of coercive speech: State legislation and employment levels by state, 2006–2024
State | Year | Bills, initiatives, and statues | Status | Detailed status | Private sector employment | Public sector employment | Total employment | Status key |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama | ||||||||
Alaska | 2024 | HB 179
& Initiative AMLS23 |
Introduced & pending referendum | In House & pending referendum | 221,000 | 83,000 | 304,000 | 1 |
Arizona | ||||||||
Arkansas | ||||||||
California | 2023 | SB 399 | Introduced | In Senate | 13,894,000 | 2,540,000 | 16,434,000 | 1 |
Colorado | 2024 | HB 24-1260 | Introduced | In House | 2,274,000 | 466,000 | 2,740,000 | 1 |
Connecticut | 2022 | SB 163 | Enacted | Enacted | 1,384,000 | 257,000 | 1,641,000 | 2 |
Delaware | ||||||||
Washington D.C. | ||||||||
Florida | ||||||||
Georgia | ||||||||
Hawaii | 2024 | SB 2715 | Introduced | In Senate | 439,000 | 137,000 | 575,000 | 1 |
Idaho | ||||||||
Illinois | 2024 | SB 3649 | Introduced | In Senate | 4,881,000 | 703,000 | 5,584,000 | 1 |
Indiana | ||||||||
Iowa | ||||||||
Kansas | ||||||||
Kentucky | ||||||||
Louisiana | ||||||||
Maine | 2023 | SP 702 / LD 1756 | Enacted | Enacted | 485,000 | 84,000 | 569,000 | 2 |
Maryland | 2024 | HB 0802 | Introduced | In House | 2,085,000 | 761,000 | 2,846,000 | 1 |
Massachusetts | 2023 | S.958 | Introduced | In Senate | 2,892,000 | 393,000 | 3,285,000 | 1 |
Michigan | 2023 | HB 4236 | Introduced | In House | 3,931,000 | 479,000 | 4,411,000 | 1 |
Minnesota | 2023 | HF 2442 | Enacted | Enacted | 2,331,000 | 359,000 | 2,691,000 | 2 |
Mississippi | ||||||||
Missouri | ||||||||
Montana | ||||||||
Nebraska | ||||||||
Nevada | ||||||||
New Hampshire | ||||||||
New Jersey | 2006 | §34:19-10 | Enacted‡ | Enacted | 3,650,000 | 549,000 | 4,200,000 | 2 |
New Mexico | ||||||||
New York | 2023 | S.4982 / A.6604 | Enacted | Enacted | 6,917,000 | 1,392,000 | 8,309,000 | 2 |
North Carolina | ||||||||
North Dakota | ||||||||
Ohio | ||||||||
Oklahoma | ||||||||
Oregon | 2010 | ORS 659.785 | Enacted | Enacted | 1,523,000 | 279,000 | 1,802,000 | 2 |
Pennsylvania | ||||||||
Rhode Island | 2023 | H 7106 | Introduced | In House | 437,000 | 63,000 | 499,000 | 1 |
South Carolina | ||||||||
South Dakota | ||||||||
Tennessee | ||||||||
Texas | ||||||||
Utah | ||||||||
Vermont | 2023 | S. 102 | Introduced | In Senate | 249,000 | 46,000 | 295,000 | 1 |
Virginia | 2024 | SB 485 | Introduced | In Senate | 3,132,000 | 911,000 | 4,043,000 | 1 |
Washington | 2023 | SB 5778 | Enacted | Enacted | 2,915,000 | 561,000 | 3,476,000 | 2 |
West Virginia | ||||||||
Wisconsin | 2009 | SB 585 | Rescinded‡ | Passed but later rescinded | 2,401,000 | 353,000 | 2,753,000 | 3 |
Wyoming |
Note: New Jersey statute §34:19-10 does not define communications regarding labor unions as "political matters" and thus allows anti-union captive audience meetings. Although no formal ruling was issued, Wisconsin entered a settlement to stop enforcing Act 290 following legal challenges. Employment data refer to workers 16+. Self-employed and self-incorporated workers are excluded. Data are not seasonally adjusted.
Source: Authors' analysis of state legislation and 2023 employment data from the BLS Current Population Survey, accessed via Economic Policy Institute. 2024. Current Population Survey Extracts, Version 1.0.49, https://microdata.epi.org.