The Mississippi House of Representatives approved legislation Wednesday that would prohibit public educational institutions in the state from creating, promoting, or implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
House Bill 1193, authored by Rep. Joey Hood, R-Ackerman, passed in a 74-41 vote, though it did not garner the support of a single Democratic lawmaker. According to the text, the legislation will serve to bar public schools, state-accredited nonpublic schools, and public postsecondary educational institutions from “engaging in discriminatory practices.”
To clarify, Republican officials are looking to take measures to promote a meritocracy-based approach to hiring practices, student engagement, and academic performance while ditching a model critics of the bill argue is in place to protect marginalized people from discrimination.
The legislation would forbid a prospective candidate seeking a job at a public education institution in Mississippi from having to issue a “diversity statement,” or a commitment to promote values of “fairness and inclusion” when it comes to race and sex in the workplace. Diversity training would also be banned when hiring new employees or admitting pupils.
Further, HB 1193 would require public education centers to teach that there are only two genders — male and female — based on one’s chromosomal makeup. Any endorsement of transgender ideology, gender-neutral pronouns, or similar concepts would not be tolerated if the bill becomes law.
“Representative Joey Hood’s House Bill 1193 stands as a direct attack on progress, opportunity, and the very communities that elected him. Hood has positioned himself as the champion of this bill, yet his actions reveal a blatant disregard for the well-being of Mississippians, especially those in Attala, Choctaw, Webster, and Winston counties, where DEI programs provide critical educational and economic support,” a statement from the Mississippi Democratic Party reads.
“HB 1193 is not about fairness. It’s about erasing opportunity. It WILL have devastating, far-reaching consequences for students, workers, and families who rely on inclusive policies to level the playing field. Instead of working to uplift his district, Hood is actively stripping away the very tools that help bridge racial, economic, and educational disparities.”
DEI has been a hot topic at both the state and federal levels. Critics of DEI argue it creates discrimination, particularly racial and sex-based, by causing others to be disadvantaged. Proponents, on the other hand, point to the concept as a form of leveling the playing field for historically disenfranchised people by enforcing equal representation.
In Mississippi, Republican State Auditor Shad White has criticized public universities for their implementation of DEI programs. He has gone so far as to suggest that taxpayers are subsidizing “indoctrination.” Nationally, Republican President Donald Trump signed an executive order barring DEI initiatives among any U.S. business or academic institution receiving federal funding.
This legislation, which would require educational bodies to submit annual reports outlining their compliance with the new regulations, is the latest attempt by the Republican supermajority in the Mississippi legislature to dismantle DEI initiatives in academia.
Under the guidelines, individuals could file complaints against schools purported to be violating the law. It would also embolden litigation against said institutions. Schools accused of noncompliance could risk having state funding withheld until they act in accordance with the prospective law.
HB 1193 now heads to the Senate for consideration.
