Sweeping Ohio higher education bill up for governor's signature
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio Republican lawmakers sent a bill that makes sweeping changes to public universities to Gov. Mike DeWine's desk on Wednesday.
One of the largest, and most controversial parts of Senate Bill 1, strips all use of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices at Ohio's public universities.
Not just DEI: Seven things to know about Ohio's sweeping higher ed bill
'There is nothing positive about this bill,' state Sen. Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) said. 'It is going to ruin higher education in Ohio.'
'DEI has become a system that sorts us,' state Sen. Michele Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester) said. 'It sorts us by race, by gender and by identity.'
There are two exceptions to the DEI elimination in the bill:
Clarifies that the bill's DEI prohibitions do not prohibit a state institution from complying with any state or federal law to provide disability services or to limit student organizations including fraternities and sororities.
Carves out the opportunity for a university to apply to the chancellor of higher education for an exemption to the DEI ban. The university will need to demonstrate a need for the exemption, like for purposes of accreditation of a specific program.
The bill also prohibits faculty from striking, creates a new civics course required for graduation with a few exceptions, and prohibits universities from taking stances on 'controversial topics.' Controversial topics are defined in the bill as 'any belief or policy that is the subject of political controversy, including issues such as climate policies, electoral politics, foreign policy, diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, immigration policy, marriage, or abortion.'
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Now that it is on the governor's desk, will he sign it? Those against the bill are calling for a veto, but DeWine said on March 14 that he will 'probably sign it.' Then again on March 21, he doubled down.
'I've already indicated I'll probably sign it,' he said. 'But I always reserve the right to make sure I know exactly what's in the bill and what's been put in the bill.'
Earlier this week, on Monday, DeWine said he was 'still looking at the bill,' but by Wednesday, said again he would probably sign it.
While the bill's opposition hopes that DeWine stops this from becoming law, GOP leaders said they are almost certain a veto will not be happening.
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'If this was going to be vetoed by Gov. DeWine, we would've certainly taken a different tact,' Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said. 'So, I don't think that's going to [happen].'
Once DeWine officially gets the bill on his desk, which sometimes happens a few days after passage from the statehouse, he will have ten days to decide whether he signs or vetoes it. If DeWine does sign it, it will go into effect 90 days after his signature.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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