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Senate concurs in House amendments to Substitute Senate Bill 1 after hours of debate over DEI and academic freedom
Summary
The Ohio Senate voted 20-11 to concur in House amendments to Substitute Senate Bill 1, known as the Advance Ohio Education Act. Supporters said the bill protects free expression and reforms higher education; opponents said it attacks academic freedom and collective bargaining and warned of chilling effects on university instruction.
The Ohio Senate on a 20-11 vote agreed to concur in House amendments to Substitute Senate Bill 1, sending the Advance Ohio Education Act to the governor after several hours of floor debate that split members over diversity, equity and inclusion policies, faculty rights and curriculum standards.
Senator Serino, the bill's sponsor on the floor, told colleagues the House made three specific changes and urged concurrence. "Mister president and members of the Senate, I strongly urge concurrence," he said, describing exemptions the House added for certain civics coursework and limited exceptions to the DEI prohibitions for compliance with state and federal law.
The bill matters because it changes statewide policy for public colleges and universities, including instructions on allowable training and orientation activities, a required American civic literacy course or…
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