FRANKFORT, Ky. — A bill targeting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies on college campuses passed the House Friday after nearly four hours of debate.

What You Need To Know

  • The House passed a sweeping anti-DEI bill Friday after four hours of debate 

  • Senate Bill 6 was amended Thursday with language from the House's original DEI bill, House Bill 9 

  • Original language from the version that passed the Senate and now targets university DEI offices, DEI staff members and race-based scholarships 

  • SB 6 heads back to the Senate for concurrence on the changes

Senate Bill 6 prohibits colleges from making students and faculty conform to a DEI statement. The bill was amended Thursday by the House to include stronger language.

In a special meeting of the House education committee, House Republicans replaced Senate Bill 6 with language from their own DEI bill, House Bill 9. Supporters said DEI offices are not doing what they say they’re supposed to do.

State Rep. Jennifer Decker, R-Waddy, was the sponsor of HB 9, which language was amended into SB 6. 

“What this bill deals with are initiatives that provide preferences for protected classes that are not offered in general," Decker said. "It is the constitution that is at play here."

A House substitute from Decker would make it unlawful for public universities in Kentucky to spend money on a DEI office, employ a DEI officer or DEI training. Decker said DEI has become a hateful tactic for universities, stifling voices that don’t conform to the university’s beliefs.

“We want to seek to diversity of viewpoint; we want to look past the color of the skin," Decker said. "We want our institutions to share ideas."

Decker said the bill does not target LGBTQ+ or other minority resource centers.

The amendment also targets scholarships only available to certain races and bans colleges from requiring a student to enroll in courses that “justify” or “promote” discriminatory concepts. Opponents of the bill argue it will hinder progress of underrepresented communities being educated.

“This bill will claw back all the progress we’ve made here in the Commonwealth," said Felicia Newman of the Louisville Urban League. "It will render students less competitive in a global economy, and they’ll be less educated than their peers.” 

Newman said DEI is not teaching one race is inherently racist based on their culture’s past, adding that anti-DEI policies could drive away athletes from the University of Kentucky (UK) and other top college programs.

“There are calls from pro athletes of all races to stop coming to states that will make these young men feel uncomfortable," Newman said. "You all love your UK 'Cats; I know you do."

In the original SB 6, universities would only not be allowed to make DEI practices or beliefs a part of their hiring or admissions process. It also defined 16 "discriminatory concepts" that could not be a part of curriculum in courses or orientations.

The bill will now head back to the Senate for concurrence of the changes.

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