Iowa Legislature considers penalizing private universities that continue DEI policies

Iowa state lawmakers are considering a new bill that would punish private colleges and universities in the state that continue to house diversity, equity and inclusion offices on campus. 

DEI offices are already banned at public colleges and universities in Iowa, but private schools are not required to follow the same state or federal laws.  

The bill, which was introduced in the Iowa House of Representatives last month, says that the private schools “shall not, except as otherwise provided by federal or state law or accreditation standards, establish, sustain, support, or staff a diversity, equity, and inclusion office.”

Private colleges and universities that do not follow the proposed regulation, if passed, would be unable to receive financial assistance from the "Iowa tuition grant program," starting next school year, according to Campus Reform.

“DEI is [dead on arrival] in the state of Iowa, and for our private institutions, honestly, this bill should be the least of their worries,” state Rep. Taylor Collins, a Republican, told the Des Moines Register. 

The legislation was advanced out of a House Higher Education Committee subcommittee last week.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.