Gov. Stitt Signs Ban on DEI Funding at Oklahoma Colleges, Universities Into Law
- On May 15, 2025, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed Senate Bill 796 banning state funds for DEI jobs, activities, and programs at public colleges and universities.
- Lawmakers passed the bill to prevent schools from requiring DEI statements, pronoun disclosures, or adherence to specific viewpoints, amid debate over its impact on inclusion programs.
- Supporters argued that DEI policies disadvantage white male students and undermine merit-based achievements, while critics expressed concern that the prohibition might restrict opportunities for students with disabilities and hinder other diversity and inclusion programs.
- The bill includes an emergency clause, takes effect July 1, 2025, and requires schools to comply by July 1, 2026, with the State Regents tasked to create rules for implementation.
- The law reflects a broader Republican effort nationwide to roll back DEI, suggesting significant changes in higher education policies and ongoing debates about civil rights and inclusion.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Can NIH-funded research on racism and health survive Trump’s cuts?
The US administration has cancelled ‘DEI grants’ without defining DEI, leaving health-equity researchers in the dark. The US administration has cancelled ‘DEI grants’ without defining DEI, leaving health-equity researchers in the dark.
Oklahoma Governor Sign Bill Banning Male Inmates From Female Spaces
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has signed a bill protecting women and girls’ privacy and safety in the Sooner State. Gov. Stitt signed SB 418 into law on Tuesday, May 13. The bill prohibits males from entering women’s private spaces – including changing rooms, sleeping quarters and restrooms – in correctional facilities. Regulating the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, the new bill specifies, Every restroom, changing room, or sleeping quarters …

In wake of new law, EKU swaps ‘diversity,’ ‘inclusion’ for ‘viewpoint neutrality’
With approval of its governing board, Eastern Kentucky University became the first in the state to formally adopt policies that bring it into compliance with a Republican-backed state law banning diversity, equity and inclusion practices at Kentucky public universities.
In The Know: Lawmakers to ‘stop the bleeding’ with one-time appropriation to struggling mental health agency | Gov. Stitt signs ban on DEI funding at Oklahoma colleges, universities into law | A bad time for a tax cut - Oklahoma Policy Institute
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