SALT LAKE CITY — A bill that will replace Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts on public colleges and universities in the state, as well as hiring practices for state employment passed an initial vote in the Utah State Senate on Wednesday.
House Bill 261 will replace DEI offices with "Student Success Centers" at Utah schools, and ban diversity statements in state job applications. But the bill was also tweaked again to respond to concerns from universities.
"We're going to make sure that if there are some obstacles to their learning, could be socioeconomic current. We want to make sure they all have an opportunity to succeed," said Sen. Keith Grover, R-Provo, the bill's Senate sponsor.
The bill passed by a 23-6 margin Wednesday and will have another procedural vote on Thursday. If it passes the Senate again, it will go back to the House of Representatives because of amendments. Should the bill once again pass in both chambers, it will head to the desk of Gov. Spencer Cox.
Along with the other changes, the bill also prohibits mandatory trainings "that promote political ideologies." The bill's sponsors have insisted school clubs and student organizations, scholarships and cultural centers on campuses would not be impacted.
But Senate Democrats said the bill still sends a bad message.
"Our communities feel as though, even though they may never read this bill, they feel as though that they’re being erased and that their safe spaces on campus will go away," said Sen. Karen Kwan, D-Taylorsville.
