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Senate passes bill repealing certain State Board of Regents programs amid debate over college‑access supports
Summary
Senators passed House File 25‑39 to repeal several programs the sponsor called obsolete; opponents warned the repeal would eliminate outreach to first‑generation and minority students and urged preservation of programs like the college‑bound initiative.
The Senate on the floor passed House File 25‑39, a bill described by sponsor Senator Gruenhagen (Senator from Scott) as repealing "various programs and functions of the State Board of Regents and institutions of higher education" that he characterized as obsolete or redundant. Gruenhagen said the programs were "either no longer used, funded, or redundant, or obsolete."
Senator Kornbach (from Story) contested that characterization, saying some provisions proposed for deletion should be expanded rather than removed. He pointed to chapter 262.92 and the "college bound" program, which he said "reaches out to students from minority backgrounds and helps to prepare them for college work," and he urged colleagues to preserve meaningful supports rather than eliminate them. Kornbach said the statutory language being deleted contained details important to supporting first‑generation and disadvantaged students.
After debate, the Senate read House File 25‑39 for the final time and passed it by recorded vote (30 ayes, 17 nays). The secretary read the bill title on the floor before the vote. Proponents argued the changes remove unused or illegal language and that federally funded TRIO and university recruitment efforts already serve the intended functions; opponents warned the deletions could reduce targeted outreach to students with fewer resources.
