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Diving overview:
- Utah House lawmakers on Friday approved final changes to a sweeping bill that would effectively eliminate public universities. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion CommitmentsIt's one of the final major steps before it heads to Gov. Spencer Cox's desk.
- The bill would replace campus DEI centers with broader “success and support” centers that would be available to all students. Any program containing the words “diversity, equity, and inclusion” is considered discriminatory and is banned. The bill would implement similar bans across the state's K-12 schools.
- Following the state Senate President's final signature, Cox Expected to sign the bill To the law. It takes effect from July 1st.
Dive Insights:
Utah's proposal is one of the most sweeping anti-DEI bills in the country and is similar to bills passed in Florida and Texas last year that banned DEI activities at public universities. All three states have a three-party Republican system, and Utah Republicans have controlled both the legislature and the governor's office since 1985.
The bill prohibits colleges and universities from requiring faculty and student training that promotes “discriminatory treatment” or teaches specific concepts, such as whether individuals are inherently privileged or oppressed based on characteristics of their identity. The bill leaves room for federally required DEI programming.
Additionally, hiring managers and admissions officers cannot ask candidates about their views on topics such as implicit bias, critical race theory, intersectionality, and racial privilege.
The state Senate modified the bill's language on Thursday, and the changes were approved by the House the next day.
The amendments approved this week would protect private scholarships. The Salt Lake Tribune reported.. The publication said the move appears to protect some tuition exemptions for Native American students, but questions remain about the bill's overall impact.
State senators also added language. contract protection A partnership between the University of Utah and the Ute Tribe continues to provide support services to students and parents.
Utah Republicans moved quickly on the bill, passing both chambers in just two weeks.
State bills opposing DEI often use broad language that can leave university employees unsure of what is permitted under the law.
Still, at least one university had already begun changing its policy before Friday's vote. Earlier this month, Under pressure from national leadersThe University of Utah says it will remove diversity-related questions and statements from its hiring process.