The proviso, introduced by the legislature's Committee on Higher Education, would withhold $2 million from each of the state's six public universities until they prove to the state finance council — chaired by Gov. Laura Kelly — that they do not mandate what the legislation terms "DEI-CRT-related content" in required coursework.
The move builds on a proviso passed last year that banned DEI infrastructure at public institutions. Since July, Wichita State University employees have been prohibited from including pronouns in email signatures, university web pages have been removed, and several campus organizations have been renamed.
The proviso's restrictions mirror those in House Bill 2428, which was removed from the House hearing schedule, though it could return later this session. Had it passed, HB 2428 would have directed the Kansas Board of Regents to prohibit topics including systemic racism, implicit bias, intersectionality and gender identity from most required bachelor's degree courses.
Supporters of HB 2428 argued the legislation would protect students from being compelled to engage with DEI content to earn a degree and shield faculty from institutional pressure to incorporate such topics into their teaching.
The fate of the proviso will be determined as the legislature finalizes its budget. HB 2428 remains eligible to return to the House floor before the session ends.
