NC Senate passes anti-DEI bill for universities; House delays vote on broader ban
RALEIGH, N.C. () — North Carolina House members delayed a vote on a bill to restrict diversity equity and inclusion measures for the second day in a row, while state senators passed a bill aimed at eliminating DEI policies and offices in public higher education institutions.
Senate Bill 558 bans public colleges and universities from endorsing 'divisive concepts' and 'discriminatory practices.'
The Republican-backed bill lists concepts such as 'one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex,' 'moral character is necessarily determined by his or her race or sex,' and 'an individual, solely by his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive.'
The vote came down along party lines. It now advances to the House for consideration.
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House lawmakers punted a vote for House Bill 171, titled 'Equality in State Agencies/Prohibition on DEI.' The measure would ban state and local government agencies from holding diversity, equity or inclusion trainings, and using any public funds for maintaining DEI offices and programs.
The vote for the bill was originally scheduled for Tuesday, for which dozens of protesters sat in the House gallery to hear. Speaker Destin Hall moved the vote to Wednesday, telling reporters it was to complete last-minute changes and hoped the concerned citizens returned the next day 'so that they can be educated on the issue.'
The rescheduled vote was also delayed, as Hall said the bill's primary sponsor, House Majority Leader Brenden Jones (R-Columbus, Robeson), was absent.
North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton was among the group of protesters who gathered at the capitol to show opposition to the bill. Clayton told Queen City News' reporting partners in Raleigh there's growing frustration over the back-to-back delays.
'I think it's cowardly not to face the people you represent in the state, being able to actually say, 'This is why we're trying to pass this bill right now,' and giving Democrats in the General Assembly an opportunity to stand up against it,' Clayton said.
Hall reiterated his given reasons for pushing back the vote and denied the accusations that protesters had anything to do with the rescheduling.
The push comes amid a nationwide effort and calls from the Trump administration to drop DEI programs.
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An amendment to the bill clarifies potential penalties for those who 'knowingly and willingly' use public money to promote DEI concepts. Government employees would be subject to a fine of up to $10,000, loss of their job or removal from office, and the responsibility to pay back any damages or misspent funds to the local government.
If the bill gets Governor Josh Stein's signature, it goes into effect on December 1.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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