Bill > LB552

This bill prohibits public postsecondary educational institutions (including the University of Nebraska, state colleges, and community colleges) from establishing or maintaining diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices and implementing DEI-related programs. The bill defines a DEI office as an organizational unit that influences hiring practices based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation, promotes differential treatment, or conducts DEI programs focusing on power structures, systemic inequities, or related theoretical concepts. Specifically, institutions are prohibited from hiring DEI staff, compelling statements about diversity, giving employment preferences based on identity, requiring participation in DEI programs, or spending public money on DEI initiatives. However, the bill does allow for certain exceptions, such as sexual harassment training, legal compliance offices, grant applications highlighting support for first-generation or low-income students, demographic data collection, scholarly research, student organization activities, and guest speaker engagements. An employee who is required to participate in a DEI program that violates these restrictions may bring an action against the institution and seek injunctive relief if they can demonstrate a violation occurred. The bill aims to restrict what it considers identity-based preferential treatment in public higher education settings.

Education

https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=58917