The freshly-filed House Bill 4 would halt any spending on DEI programs in public colleges and universities while mandating the shuttering of DEI offices and elimination of all related staff by June 30 of this year.
Despite efforts by the University of Kentucky and other major schools to scale back or remove their DEI offices and programs ahead of the session, Rep. Jennifer Decker — a Republican from Waddy — argues the bill is necessary to "preserve academic integrity and free expression."
The move isn't unexpected, as lawmakers have been saying they plan to restart debate on the issue after several DEI bills failed to cross the finish line last year.
Back in November, Rep. Jason Nemes told WUKY that his party doesn't see DEI as consistent with the values behind other programs meant to bolster support for underserved communities.
"It is laudable to have programs to help folks to get them to make them successful," he said, saying the concern lies instead with elements they see as "anti-institutions" and "against Western civilization."
The push now seems more likely to gain momentum with the issue now having had a year's worth of formal and informal discussion in Frankfort — not to mention a new administration in Washington fully aligned with the project of rooting out the diversity programs.
