A Utah Legislative Committee Voted Against DEI

The part-time legislature is in session

The Utah Capitol is busy with the legislature in session.

Utah currently is in a 45 day legislative general session which started in the middle of January 2024. Utah does not have a full time legislature. Bills are being presented, and topics are being discussed.

One of the issues debated was DEI, which stands are Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Some proposed legislation would end statewide Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives that its authors consider discriminatory.

After the killing of George Floyd and the protests held around the country against racism and police brutality of Black men, Utah passed some legislation which included some diversity initiatives.

The second day of the general session of the legislature was on Wednesday, January 17. The House Education Committee debated and passed House Bill 261 (H.B. 261), which curtails diversity initiatives which had been adopted previously by public entities in Utah.

The bill would ban public colleges, schools, and government offices from asking job applicants for a statement about their beliefs on diversity or inclusion. Schools would be required to eliminate training on discriminatory practices. There are some exceptions in the bill regarding federal requirements and grants on diversity.

There was public debate on the issue from various minority groups within the state against the bill as well as those who were for the bill.

As an American of Asian background with decades of service in nonprofits and government work as well as being a former California state Assemblyman, I was asked to testify against the bill by giving my views, experience, and perspective.

The Republicans were not convinced as the vote of the House Education Committee was along party lines to pass the measure. The vote was twelve Republicans lawmakers in favor with two Democrats voting against it.

An author of the bill said that it would not close cultural centers or defund scholarships although the language of the bill appears to target those items. James Evans, a Black man who is a former Utah GOP chairman said that DEI can continue with modifications.

Diane Lewis, chair of the Utah Democratic Party, stated about the vote: “Three years ago, state and community leaders of both parties came together in a commitment to fight back against systemic racism. Unfortunately, House Bill 261 now represents a major deviation from that commitment and a huge step backwards for our state.”

She said that passing the bill was throwing people of color under the bus. [From Cachevalleydaily.com]

Although Democrats and some members of the minority communities who spoke out against the bill were not happy with the results of the vote, the bill will now move forward.

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