Texas is home to many exceptional higher education institutions. Unfortunately, the state legislature passed Senate Bill (SB) 17 last spring, a law that prohibits diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and offices at public universities. It went into effect on January 1, 2024.
This new anti-DEI law introduced changes that will have far-reaching consequences for college quality and accessibility in Texas.
SB 17’s broad language invites ambiguities and has sparked concerns about the potential chilling effects on campuses for student support services, centers and outreach programs.
The law also requires universities to certify compliance each year before they can spend any money received from the state for the upcoming year, which comprises a significant portion of their budgets. If universities fail to comply, they will lose state funding and could face legal action.
Check out this bilingual infographic to see what SB 17 affects and what it doesn’t. (See PDF version in English and Spanish)
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