Latest news with #Bill171
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
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. Mother and son charged after two teens injured in Great Falls shooting: Sheriff's Office 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. Future uncertain for Duke basketball star due to new Trump administration policy 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.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NC bans on DEI in state agencies and higher ed move through legislature
North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall (R-Caldwell), left, and Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) speak ahead of Gov. Josh Stein's State of the State address on March 12, 2025. (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline) Lawmakers in the North Carolina legislature advanced a pair of bills Wednesday that aim to wipe diversity, equity and inclusion efforts from government and college campuses. House Bill 171 bans local and state governments from maintaining DEI offices and programs, considering the measures while awarding contracts, and conducting DEI trainings. And Senate Bill 558 defines a range of 'discriminatory practices' and 'divisive concepts' on college campuses, expanding on a DEI ban already put in place by the UNC System's Board of Governors. Both bills passed out of their respective chambers Wednesday on party-line votes. They'll head across the building for further consideration. The pair of bills come amid a push from both the Trump administration and Republican state legislatures to eliminate diversity and equity practices from all corners of the public sector. A third North Carolina proposal moving through the legislature also bans DEI in K-12 schools. House Speaker Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) has said the trio of proposals could eventually be bundled into one larger bill down the line, if GOP leadership opts to do so. A state worker who violates the proposal to ban DEI in state agencies could face a civil lawsuit, penalties of up to thousands of dollars and termination. Local government employees, too, would be subject to legal action, penalties and firing. The bill was changed during committee negotiations, removing language that would have also applied the ban on DEI to 'non-state entities' that receive public funds. Its Republican sponsors also removed criminal penalties from the bill, and excluded charter and private schools from being impacted. Democratic opponents have argued that there is almost nothing in current state government that would qualify as 'DEI,' but that the bill could nonetheless hurt recruiting and retaining workers in a state that has struggled to fill vacancies. It would take effect on Dec. 1. Last year, the UNC System Board of Governors voted to repeal its DEI policy, replacing it with a statement of 'principled neutrality.' Under the bill approved by the Senate on Wednesday, the board — as well as the governing body for state community colleges — would have to approve another new policy to comply. The bill is almost identical to a similar bill applying to K-12 schools. It outlines a list of 'divisive concepts' and 'discriminatory practices' that campuses are banned from endorsing or affirming. That includes treating a person differently 'solely to advantage or disadvantage that individual.'
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NC House bill looks to remove all DEI initiatives, funding for programs in state
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – A North Carolina House bill filed on Friday aims to remove all diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives across the state and ensure that no government money goes toward those initiatives. House Bill 171 was filed by Republican Representative Brenden Jones. In a post on X, Rep. Jones said, 'This bill upholds equal opportunity and ensures employment and contracts are based on qualifications, not quotas.' The bill says: 'No State agency shall promote, support, fund, implement, or maintain workplace DEI 13 programs, policies, or initiatives, including, but not limited to, using DEI in State government 14 hirings and employment; maintaining dedicated DEI staff positions or offices; or offering or 15 requiring diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training.' It also says no government funding should go toward any DEI initiatives. Several North Carolina groups, universities and companies have already removed DEI initiatives after criticism on the polices from the Trump administration. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
