Two state senators have sent a letter to university boards of regents announcing the move to freeze state funding increases if they do not demonstrate compliance with state law.
In their letter, State Sens. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe), chair of the Senate Education Committee, and Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston), chair of the workgroup examining higher education funding, cited numerous instances of noncompliance with a law banning DEI in higher education institutions.
The senators wrote that reports submitted by governing boards were not found to be in satisfactory compliance with Senate Bill 17—a law passed last session to eliminate DEI offices and programming in institutions of higher education.
“Texas Education Code Section 51.3525(e) prohibits institutions from spending state-appropriated funds contingent upon a report submitted by the governing board, certifying full compliance with the prohibitions under SB 17,” reads the letter.
Additionally, it mentioned that many of the DEI-related findings were at “health-related institutions.”
“As legislators begin budget deliberations, we expect you to provide clear and indisputable evidence that DEI programming has been fully eliminated from the operations of all your member institutions,” the senators wrote to members of the boards of regents. “Please be prepared to demonstrate full compliance with SB 17 upon request.”
Bettencourt wrote on X that he received one verbal confirmation of compliance from a system chancellor and is awaiting more.
“This letter confirms the obvious that removal of DEI offices and activities in Higher Ed is the law of the land in Texas, and cannot be neglected in any manner,” stated Bettencourt.
Public universities are overseen by boards of regents appointed by and accountable to the governor.
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