Committee recommends ‘do not pass’ on bill addressing DEI offices, citing existing code

The Senate Education Committee voted 6-0 to recommend a do-not-pass on Senate Bill 2,392, which the bill sponsor said would have addressed Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) offices at higher education institutions and other public entities. The sponsor told the committee he had learned during review that most of the bill's aims already exist in state code and therefore moved a do-not-pass recommendation.

"I discovered that, basically, we've already got in code, what I'm trying to accomplish with one minor exception," the sponsor said during committee discussion, explaining he would move a do-not-pass motion rather than attempt an amendment. The sponsor also referenced a letter from an institutional president and recent federal developments as context for his decision.

The motion for a do-not-pass was moved by Senator Wabamaw and seconded by Senator Axman. The committee opened and closed the vote with a 6-0 tally in favor of do not pass; the chair indicated Senator Wabamaw would carry the measure. Committee members discussed that some testimony had incorrectly described the existence (or nonexistence) of DEI offices; the sponsor said he was continuing to review which agencies and institutions have DEI staff or programs.

With the do-not-pass recommendation, the measure will not proceed from the committee in its current form. Committee members indicated they will return to committee work after crossover and that the committee will not meet next week because of session scheduling.