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PA HB987

Bill

Status

Introduced

3/24/2025

Primary Sponsor

Milou Mackenzie

Click for details

Origin

House of Representatives

2025-2026 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Public institutions of higher education in Pennsylvania would be prohibited from requiring students, employees, or applicants to provide diversity statements, endorse ideologies promoting differential treatment based on race, or submit views on DEI-related topics

  • All DEI offices must be eliminated, and institutions cannot hire employees or contractors to perform DEI office functions; violations result in unpaid leave for first offense or termination and 5-year hiring ban for subsequent offenses

  • Institutions must adopt mission statements affirming free inquiry, viewpoint diversity, and institutional neutrality, and incorporate University of Chicago's freedom of expression and Kalven Committee reports into bylaws and handbooks

  • Mandatory training on diversity, equity, inclusion, bias, oppression, or gender identity is prohibited as a condition of admission, employment, promotion, or graduation; administrative penalties up to $1,000,000 or 1% of operating budget apply for violations

  • Provisions take effect for the 2026-2027 academic year, with institutions required to file compliance reports with the Department of Education before spending state appropriations beginning July 1, 2027

Legislative Description

In miscellaneous provisions relating to institutions of higher education, providing for prohibitions regarding ideological oaths or statements, for prohibition on diversity, equity and inclusion offices and employees, for statements required to be included in mission statement, bylaws, faculty handbook and student handbook, for certain mandatory training prohibited, for revoking tenure for diversity, equity and inclusion violations and for spending restricted; and imposing penalties.

Last Action

Referred to Education

3/24/2025

Committee Referrals

Education3/24/2025

Full Bill Text

No bill text available