KENTUCKY SENATE MAJORITY WHIP MIKE WILSON INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO PROTECT AGAINST DISCRIMINATION IN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES
FRANKFORT, KY (January 4, 2024) – Senate Majority Whip Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green, filed legislation on the first day of the Kentucky General Assembly’s 2024 session to protect Kentucky higher education students and employees from discriminatory trends in higher education.
Wilson filed the measure as a priority legislation related to post-secondary institutions as a means of addressing a concerning shift toward a new form of discrimination driven by ideologies attempting to suppress free speech and intellectual diversity, undermine academic freedom and the principle of equal opportunity, devalue academic and professional merits, and reduce the values of diversity to a bureaucratic check box exercise.
SB 6 provides that a student or employee of a public postsecondary education institution shall not be penalized, discriminated against, or receive any adverse treatment due to the individual's refusal to support or endorse any divisive concept, nor be required to endorse a specific ideology or political viewpoint to be eligible for hiring, contract renewal, tenure, promotion, or graduation. It prohibits an institution from inquiring into the individual’s political or social viewpoints and establishes violations for institutions.
“We’ve seen a trend in DEI policies in our public universities that attempt to divide instead of unite people in that microcosm of society,” said Wilson. “Instead of promoting intellectual dialogue, individualism, the content of one’s character and merit-based practices, DEI has driven a wedge against those of us who want to see Kentucky achieve greater things.”
As state dollars fund public universities, SB 6 aims for universities to hire and make promotion decisions based on an individual's skills, qualifications, and performance rather than superficial factors like race, gender, or other identity markers.
In December 2023 Wilson, along with Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, and Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, blocked a vote by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges from adopting a new DEI Position Statement to be required for universities accreditation.
In December, the trio led the effort for Kentucky universities to “......strive to hold all students attending our institutions of higher education with intrinsic value in who they are without discrimination. Each public institution should be held accountable to provide equal opportunity in accordance with Kentucky's constitutional obligation to educate without regard to the immutable characteristics or qualities that naturally bring about diversity onto our campuses.”
Wilson determined he had to champion this legislation to protect universities employees and the students they teach against this arbitrary and artificial litmus test.
“Progressive ideologues are seeking to devalue and undermine foundational bedrocks of our society, such as family and faith,” said Wilson. “While Senate Bill 6 does not preclude having a DEI policy or office, it also doesn’t compel the university or any individual from making statements or signing on to that policy.”
The General Assembly has a constitutional role in determining how taxpayers' funds are spent on education. SB 6 helps to ensure those funds are promoting educational excellence and rigor, and not trendy, divisive theories.
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Senator Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green, represents the 32nd Senate District, including Logan, Simpson, and Todd Counties and southern Warren County. He serves as the Senate majority whip and, as a Senate majority leadership member, serves on the Legislative Research Commission, the Committee on Committees, and the Rules Committee. Wilson is a member of the Senate Agriculture; Economic Development, Tourism and Labor; Education; Transportation; and Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection committees. He also serves as Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee and Public Pension Oversight Board member. Wilson recently served as a 2022 Interim Early Childhood Education Task Force member.