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Senate approves measure restricting campus DEI programs while launching university efficiency review
Summary
The Mississippi State Senate voted to bar certain diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offices and activities at public colleges and universities while creating a task force to review university efficiency and student completion. The bill drew heated debate before passing on a recorded vote.
The Mississippi State Senate approved legislation that prohibits a range of diversity, equity and inclusion programs and offices at public colleges and universities and directs a new task force to study efficiency and completion across the state's public universities. The measure passed after extended debate and a roll-call vote.
Supporters said the bill restores a merit-based approach to admissions and hiring while creating a University System Efficiency Task Force to examine student completion and institutional performance. The task force will include legislative leaders, higher-education officials and appointees representing regional and research universities; it must deliver recommendations for boosting enrollments and graduation rates.
Opponents said the measure removes supports that help first-generation and historically underrepresented students enroll, stay and graduate, and that it risks reversing progress on campus diversity and student success. Several senators argued the state should instead study which programs are effective before taking broad prohibitions.
The bill contains two distinct parts: (1) a charge to create a multi-member, cross-branch task force to analyze efficiency and student completion across the public university system; and (2) statutory language that defines and limits campus DEI offices, training and policies that give or seek race-, gender- or orientation-based preferences. The measure lists exceptions (for veteran or disability accommodations, scholarly research, certain student organizations and activities that do not provide preferential treatment) and requires the university boards to adopt investigative and compliance procedures.
Senators debating the measure described it as a policy reset. Senator Brent McMahon, sponsor and chair of the universities committee, said the efficiency review is aimed at helping institutions enroll and graduate more Mississippians and to prepare for demographic shifts. Several other proponents said the ban on certain DEI practices is intended to ensure admission and hiring decisions are determined by neutral academic and merit criteria.
Dissenting senators warned the bill would dismantle campus programs that provide wrap-around supports for students who are the first in their families to attend college, and that it would chill on-campus programming and advising intended to improve retention and graduation rates. Senator Derrick Simmons urged colleagues to reject the measure, saying the state should build on programs that have improved outcomes and not eliminate them.
The Senate adopted the bill and recorded final passage by a roll-call vote (34 yeas, 14 nays).
Votes at the end of the Senate day showed the measure passed and will proceed to the next stage of the legislative process. The statute also requires the boards that govern the institutions to adopt complaint and compliance processes and to report annually on any investigations or enforcement actions under the new law.
