Hours of public testimony as Senate committee holds hearing on bill restricting DEI programs in Georgia schools

The Georgia Senate Higher Education Committee held an extended hearing on Senate Bill 120, a proposal to restrict diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in public K–12 schools and higher education. The bill's author said the measure would remove what he described as ideology enforcement and return institutions to merit-based standards; teachers, students, civil-rights groups and higher‑education associations urged the committee to reject the bill or to narrow its scope.

Sponsor Senator Michael Harbin told the committee he brought the bill after hearing constituents’ concerns that DEI programs have “become tools of ideology enforcement” and that some students discouraged from speaking out fear “retribution.” He said the bill as drafted applies to University System of Georgia institutions, the Technical College System of Georgia and private postsecondary institutions that receive state funding, and he described the proposal as mirroring…