Utah’s House Education Committee voted to advance a bill that would ban some inclusion, equity and diversity (IE&D) practices in public institutions.
The legislation, House Bill 261, would ban the state’s public colleges, K-12 schools and government entities from asking job applicants for a statement about their beliefs on inclusion or diversity. It also requires public institutions to maintain neutrality on political topics and conduct training and surveys focused on free speech. Violators could lose state funding.
HB 261 now moves to the state’s House of Representatives for a vote.
“The bill puts common-sense policies in place for government agencies and universities by not requiring job applicants to pass an ideological litmus test or demanding that students or faculty in Utah’s universities adhere to a particular ideology to graduate or be hired,” Rep. Katy Hall, R-South Ogden, the bill’s sponsor, said in a statement. “It will eliminate policies for state employees to attend training that tries to compel them to adopt a particular ideology.”
The news comes as IE&D has become a target of conservative groups and politicians who say these practices are discriminatory.
SHRM Online has collected additional news on the topic.
Bill Restricts IE&D Training
HB 261 contains provisions for universities to annually train all employees “on the separation of personal political advocacy from an institution’s business.” Further, under the bill, a university or K-12 school cannot have policies, trainings, programs or initiatives that suggest someone’s personal identity makes them inherently superior or inferior to another person.
Local Residents Spoke Out During Emotional Session
A three-hour meeting between lawmakers and concerned citizens was characterized by vigorous disagreement about the merits of IE&D and the potential implications of the bill. More than 45 constituents spoke about IE&D programs. Some said they are necessary to help students from underrepresented communities feel safe on campus; others suggested they provide unequal assistance or stoke racial divisions.
Bill Sponsor Says She Supports Diversity and Inclusion
Hall said the goal of the bill was to ensure fairness, create higher education as a free marketplace of ideas, and protect free speech and open dialogue within government and education. During the open session, she said, “We all support diversity and inclusion but DEI has come to mean differential treatment in some cases.”
Utah Also Considering Bill Restricting Rights of Transgender Individuals
HB 257 would restrict transgender people from using gender-specific public bathrooms and facilities that align with their gender identity. It would also require government entities to have a certain number of single-occupant restrooms and locker rooms in new buildings.
(Axios)
Other States Considering Anti-IE&D Bills
A new report by The Chronicle of Higher Education found that 12 states are considering banning the use of diversity statements in institutional hiring, seven states are weighing bills that would prohibit colleges from having IE&D offices or staff, and 12 states are considering banning mandatory IE&D training.
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