Kentucky House Bill 4, which would prohibit any diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) program in Kentucky’s public universities, passed the House Wednesday and is pending a Senate vote.
First introduced in February by Rep. Jennifer Decker, the bill states all public university DEI programs would have to be cut by June 30. The bill would also prevent public universities from spending any money on DEI training.
The bill comes in coordination with current federal attacks on DEI spearheaded by the Trump administration.
Jennifer Decker, the bill’s co-sponsor, said in a press release to the Courier-Journal last month that HB 4 would make higher education “more obtainable” for Kentuckians.
In testimony to the HB 4 House Standing Committee on Postsecondary Education on Tuesday, Decker said the bill would hold universities accountable and “dismantle the failed and misguided DEI bureaucracies that have made our colleges more divided, more expensive and less tolerant.”
“House Bill 4 would allow our universities and colleges to return to their primary focus of providing Kentucky students with excellence in academic instruction in an environment that fosters critical thinking through constructive dialogue,” Decker said. “To accomplish these goals, House Bill 4 narrowly defines and targets DEI offices and initiatives that promote unconstitutional differential treatment based on religion, race, sex, color or national origin.”
University faculty, staff and students across the state have spoken out against HB 4 and other anti-DEI initiatives on local and federal levels.
Veronica Butler, WKU Democrats outreach executive, participated in Kentucky Day of DEI, a state-wide rally against HB 4.
During the Friday demonstration on the Hill, Butler said, “DEI makes college possible for a lot of kids.”
Maya Gudger, a freshman social work major, reflected on her life as a black woman and the impact DEI has had on her.
“Opportunities will never be fair for me, and DEI is a place where I can have the same level of opportunities as someone who does not look like me and someone who has not had the experiences like me,” Gudger said.
Student organizer of Kentucky Day of DEI and For the People co-founder Arianna Pierson has been a leading voice in favor of DEI.
“I want Western Kentucky University to be a place where all students feel safe, all students feel heard,” Pierson said.
News Reporter Anthony Clauson can be reached at anthony.clauson994@topper.wku.edu.
