Lawmakers are pushing a bill to prohibit teachers from going on organized strikes, following anti-ICE protests in Tucson.
The legislation would penalize public school teachers who participate in organized “work stoppages.”
Teachers at fault would be stripped of their benefits, reemployment rights and civil service protections. The school district or charter school they belong to would also be partially defunded as punishment.
The bill would not apply to teachers acting individually, only when they work in groups.
Sen. Hildy Angius (R-Bullhead City), who sponsored the bill, cited recent Tucson protests.
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Demonstrators gather on Hayden Lawn during a protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
Connor Greenwall / KJZZ
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A protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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Protesters against immigration enforcement and ICE at the University of Arizona in Tucson on Jan. 30, 2026.
Alisa Reznick / KJZZ
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Students protest immigration enforcement and ICE near Interstate 17 and Beardsley Road in Phoenix.
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A protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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A protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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Student organizer Hayden Nguyen speaks at a protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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Barricades and private security were present on Old Main Lawn at Arizona State University's Tempe campus during a protest against ICE and immigration enforcement on Jan. 30, 2026.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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A protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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A protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
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A protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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Demonstrators gather around the Old Main lawn for a protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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An organizer leads a chant during a protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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An organizer speaks during a protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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An hospitality worker discusses Unite Here Local 11's decision to authorize a strike against food services vendor Aramark during a protest at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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An organizer speaks during a protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Tempe Beach Park on Jan. 30, 2026. Protesters marched through downtown Tempe, from ASU's Old Main to the park.
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An organizer speaks during a protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Tempe Beach Park on Jan. 30, 2026. Protesters marched through downtown Tempe, from ASU's Old Main to the park.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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An organizer speaks during a protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Tempe Beach Park on Jan. 30, 2026. Protesters marched through downtown Tempe, from ASU's Old Main to the park.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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Organizer Hayden Nguyen speaks during a protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Tempe Beach Park on Jan. 30, 2026.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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Demonstrators gather on Hayden Lawn during a protest against immigration enforcement and ICE on Jan. 30, 2026. Protesters marched through downtown Tempe from ASU's Old Main to Tempe Beach Park and then back to campus.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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Protesters against immigration enforcement and ICE at the University of Arizona in Tucson on Jan. 30, 2026.
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Protesters against immigration enforcement and ICE at the University of Arizona in Tucson on Jan. 30, 2026.
Alisa Reznick / KJZZ
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Protesters against immigration enforcement and ICE at the University of Arizona in Tucson on Jan. 30, 2026.
Alisa Reznick / KJZZ
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Joshua and TIffany Kassel protest against ICE in Tucson on Jan. 30, 2026.
Alisa Reznick / KJZZ
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Demonstrators march north on Mill Avenue during a protest against immigration enforcement and ICE that began at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
Connor Greenwall / KJZZ
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Demonstrators march on Mill Avenue during a protest against immigration enforcement and ICE that began at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
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Demonstrators gather on Hayden Lawn during a protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
Connor Greenwall / KJZZ
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Demonstrators march north on Mill Avenue during a protest against immigration enforcement and ICE that began at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
Connor Greenwall / KJZZ
At the end of January, Tucson teachers called out from school to join protests against ICE following the killings of Minneapolis residents Renée Good and Alex Pretti, causing several schools to shut down for the day.
Angius and co-sponsor Rep. Matt Gress (R-Phoenix) said their proposal will prevent future shutdowns.
“Taxpayers fund instruction delivered in classrooms,” Gress said in a statement. “When adults coordinate mass call-outs to shut down campuses, that is a strike in practice. It robs students of instructional time and throws working parents into chaos. Public schools exist to educate children. If someone organizes a work stoppage, they should not retain the privileges and protections of public employment.”
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