After new legislation relating to public universities was filed yesterday, State Rep. Brian Harrison took to social media to criticize one measure, arguing that “fake Republicans” are only pretending to ban DEI.
Harrison (R-Midlothian) pointed to a section of House Bill 2548—filed by State Rep. Cody Harris (R-Palestine)—which would allow university governing boards to make exceptions for DEI courses for degree programs with a title that clearly and primarily focuses on “racial, ethnic, or gender studies.”
The measure directly contradicts Harrison’s recently filed legislation, House Bill 2339, known as the Defunding Indoctrination in Education (DIE) Act, which would prohibit public institutions of higher education from offering certificates, degree programs, or courses in DEI or gender studies.
In response to Harris’ measure, Harrison wrote, “Wow, House ‘leadership’ just filed a bill (HB2548) that explicitly authorizes DEI in public universities… while pretending to ban it.”
“Cody Harris’ bill explicitly allows universities to have a DEI or transgender studies major, as long the name of the degree program is clearly labeled,” posted Matt Rinaldi, former chairman of the Republican Party of Texas. “So your ‘Antiracism & White Privilege’ degree program is safe Texas!”
Harrison also recently filed a bill that would prohibit DEI-influenced courses and strike down loopholes that Senate Bill 17, the measure that banned DEI offices and practices in 2023, left open.
“Real Republicans want to ban DEI, fake Republicans want to protect it,” Harrison wrote on X. “This is the DEI Protection Act.”
State Rep. J.M. Lozano (R-Kingsville) thanked Harrison for “exposing” the measure, calling it a “little nugget of massive betrayal of Texas Republican voters.”
“The Burrows Republican leadership has already repeatedly betrayed its own voters by prioritizing its own power and the Democrats that put that leadership team in power over the conservative principles and grassroots movement that put them in office,” Lozano wrote on X.
“When they ‘address’ the Republican priorities, they offer little more than symbolic resistance or even insult the intelligence of ‘We the People’ with proposed bills that Say Something And Do Nothing, intending to fool the Republican electorate,” Lozano continued.
President Donald Trump and Gov. Greg Abbott have issued executive orders banning DEI across government agencies. However, how these orders will affect institutions of higher education remains unclear.
Harris has not responded to Texas Scorecard’s request for comment.
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