Senate Higher Education Committee votes to pass bill to curtail university DEI programs

The Georgia Senate Higher Education Committee on an early Monday morning voted to pass Senate Bill 120, as amended, after a brief debate about academic freedom, recruitment and the scope of the bill.

The measure, presented to the committee by Senator Harmon, would restrict state funding and activities tied to diversity, equity and inclusion programs at institutions that receive taxpayer dollars; an amendment offered on the floor narrowed the bill’s immediate scope to public institutions. The committee approved the amended bill by voice/count, with the chair recording a 6-2 tally in favor.

Senator Harmon, the bill’s author, described SB 120 as “a necessary step to restore academic excellence and fairness in our colleges” and argued that some DEI initiatives “have become ideological filters that stifle free speech” and “promote a culture of division rather than unity.” He told the committee, “By passing 120, we will affirm that Georgia's valued education [is] based on…