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Primary Sponsor

Last Action

Ch. SL 2026-212026-06-24

Vote Breakdown

Plain Language Summary

This bill prohibits North Carolina public universities and community colleges from maintaining diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices or programs, requiring employees to affirm certain concepts, or endorsing what the bill defines as 'divisive concepts' related to race and sex. It requires institutions to certify annual compliance and allows instruction on these topics only if the institution makes clear it does not endorse them.

Arguments in Favor

• •Supporters argue this bill protects academic freedom and free speech by preventing institutions from compelling students and employees to adopt specific ideological viewpoints.
• •They contend that DEI programs promote racial and sexual stereotyping rather than true diversity of thought, and that the bill ensures compliance with federal law and the Supreme Court's Students for Fair Admissions decision while protecting North Carolina's $2.4 billion in federal higher education funding.

Arguments Against

• •Opponents argue the bill's definitions of 'divisive concepts' are overly broad and vague, potentially restricting legitimate academic discussion of historical racism, systemic inequality, and related topics.
• •They contend the bill could harm recruitment and retention of students and faculty from underrepresented groups, limit educational quality by discouraging honest examination of America's history, and that it effectively censors protected speech by preventing institutions from discussing these concepts even for educational or research purposes.