Eliminate DEI in Colleges Act
HB1282, titled the Eliminate DEI in Colleges Act, would bar institutions of higher education from receiving any federal funds or participating in federally funded or guaranteed student loan programs unless they certify that they do not and will not carry out any program, project, initiative, or office whose primary purpose is to advocate, promote, or support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The bill defines DEI broadly to include activities tied to classifications based on race, color, sex, national origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation, and to differential or preferential treatment based on those classifications.
The bill also requires covered institutions to provide information to the Secretary of Education upon request to verify the certification, directs the Secretary to issue regulations to implement and enforce the new requirements, and establishes an administrative appeal process if federal financial assistance is terminated. In effect, the bill would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 by adding a new section that conditions federal higher education aid on the absence of DEI-related programs and offices.
If enacted, HB1282 would significantly alter the eligibility rules for federal higher education funding by conditioning access to grants, loans, and other federal assistance on institutional certification that DEI programs and offices do not exist on campus. It would amend Part B of Title I of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and give the Department of Education enforcement authority, including the ability to terminate assistance and promulgate regulations. The bill would directly affect colleges and universities, their student aid participation, and campus administrative structures related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Based on the bill text and the available legislative context, the measure appears to be framed by its sponsors as a restriction on what they view as preferential or identity-based institutional practices in higher education. There are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, so there is no documented floor or committee debate to gauge broader legislative sentiment. The introduction and referral suggest the bill is in an early stage and has not yet been publicly vetted through recorded committee action in the materials provided.
The central point of contention is the bill’s broad prohibition on DEI-related activities and offices as a condition of federal funding. Supporters are likely to argue that federal dollars should not subsidize programs they view as discriminatory or ideologically driven, while opponents would likely contend that the bill would suppress lawful diversity initiatives, chill campus programming, and create uncertainty over what activities count as DEI. The definition of DEI, which includes classifications based on race, sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation, is especially likely to be disputed because it could sweep in a wide range of student support, recruitment, and inclusion efforts.