Texas could become the second state in the country after Florida to ban diversity, equity and inclusion offices in higher education.
, that requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to conduct an annual study into the impact of banning DEI offices, allows universities to make "reasonable efforts" to re-assign employees in DEI offices to new positions with similar pay, and shifts the day the bill goes into effect back by three months to Jan. 1.
The legislation still needs final passage before it heads back to the upper chamber where the Senate could accept the changes or elect to meet in a conference committee of lawmakers to hash out the differences. If the legislation becomes law, Texas would be the second state in the nation with such a ban, following Florida.The Texas Regulatory Consistency Act is designed to take some authority away from cities that impose ordinances that go beyond state law.
House Democrats lamented that the legislation rolls back progress and jeopardizes investments the state has made in its universities. Those who support such offices argue that removing them or weakening their influence will make schools less welcoming places to work and study, turn back efforts to correct past discrimination against students who were not always welcome on campus
"There is virtually no evidence that DEI programs have closed the gap in terms of minority student outcomes, minority recruitment and faculty hiring," Kuempel told members when he laid out his version of the Senate bill on the House floor Friday. Earlier in the debate, Kuempel also successfully introduced an amendment that clarifies the legislation bans DEI offices that "promote differential treatment," and ensures all hiring initiatives are "color-blind and sex neutral."Matt SchaeferThe legislation now says any DEI policies, training or programs must be approved by university lawyers or the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and requires the state to audit the universities once every four years.
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