Kentucky
General Assembly

02/12/25	introduced in House to Committee on Committees (H)
02/14/25	to Postsecondary Education (H)
02/28/25	taken from Postsecondary Education (H) 1st reading returned to Postsecondary Education (H)
03/04/25	reported favorably, 2nd reading, to Rules with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title) floor amendments (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6) and (7) filed to Committee Substitute posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Wednesday, March 05, 2025
03/05/25	3rd reading Floor Amendments (1) and (6) defeated Floor Amendment (2) ruled out of order passed 81-18 with Committee Substitute (1), Floor Amendment (7) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
03/06/25	received in Senate to Committee on Committees (S) to Education (S) taken from Education (S) 1st reading returned to Education (S)
03/07/25	taken from Education (S) 2nd reading returned to Education (S) Floor Amendments (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (12), (13), (14), (15) and (16) filed
03/11/25	reported favorably, to Rules floor amendment (17) filed to bill, floor amendment (18) filed to Committee Substitute, floor amendment (19-title) filed posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 11, 2025 passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day

Amendment	House Committee Substitute 1
Summary	Retain original provisions, except define an additional term; remove provisions allowing a cause of action by a qualified individual against the council or a public postsecondary education institution for a violation of certain sections; direct the Auditor of Public Accounts to conduct a compliance audit to determine whether an institution spent money in violation of this Act at least once every four years and set forth the procedure to cure or appeal a violation; create a new section of KRS 335B.020 to 335B.070 to prohibit a licensing authority from requiring diversity, equity, and inclusion trainings as a prerequisite to licensing or as grounds for discipline; provide that previous diversity, equity, and inclusion training requirements are void; amend KRS 335B.010 to define terms.
Index Headings	Education, Finance - Public postsecondary education, diversity, equity, and inclusion, private civil action, removal Education, Higher - Diversity, equity, and inclusion spending, periodic compliance audit Education, Higher - Public postsecondary education, diversity, equity, and inclusion, private civil action, removal Licensing - Diversity, equity, and inclusion, licensure requirement, prohibition Occupations and Professions - Diversity, equity, and inclusion, licensure requirement, prohibition Universities and Colleges - Diversity, equity, and inclusion spending, periodic compliance audit Universities and Colleges - Public postsecondary education, diversity, equity, and inclusion, private civil action, removal Auditor of Public Accounts - Diversity, equity, and inclusion spending, periodic compliance audit, frequency and appeals Civil Actions - Public postsecondary education, diversity, equity, and inclusion, private civil action, removal Claims - Public postsecondary education, diversity, equity, and inclusion, private civil action, removal Workforce - Diversity, equity, and inclusion spending, periodic compliance audit, frequency and appeals Workforce - Diversity, equity, and inclusion, licensure requirement, prohibition

Amendment	House Committee Amendment 1
Sponsor	J. Tipton
Summary	Make title amendment.
Index Headings	Title Amendments - HB 4

Amendment	House Floor Amendment 1
Sponsor	A. Donworth
Summary	Retain original provisions except restrict the definition of "resource" to moneys appropriated by the General Assembly.
Index Headings	Education, Finance - Diversity, equity, and inclusion prohibitions, restriction of resource use, limit to appropriations Education, Higher - Diversity, equity, and inclusion prohibitions, restriction of resource use, limit to appropriations Universities and Colleges - Diversity, equity, and inclusion prohibitions, restriction of resource use, limit to appropriations

Amendment	House Floor Amendment 2
Sponsor	E. Hancock
Summary	Retain all original provisions except remove the requirements that each public postsecondary education institution provide the Personnel Cabinet and State Treasurer the name, job title, duty station, and salary or wages of each employee each month beginning January 1, 2025, and to post its itemized annual budget.
Index Headings	Education, Finance - Public postsecondary education institutions, employee compensation publication, removal Education, Higher - Public postsecondary education institutions, employee compensation publication, removal Public Officers and Employees - Public postsecondary education institutions, employee compensation publication, removal Public Salaries - Public postsecondary education institutions, employee compensation publication, removal State Employees - Public postsecondary education institutions, employee compensation publication, removal Treasurer - Public postsecondary education institutions, employee compensation publication, removal Universities and Colleges - Public postsecondary education institutions, employee compensation publication, removal

Amendment	House Floor Amendment 3
Sponsor	S. Stalker
Summary	Retain all original provisions and specifically exclude faculty and staff sponsorship of student-led organizations from the prohibitions of Section 2 of this Act.
Index Headings	Education, Higher - Public postsecondary education, student-led organizations, faculty sponsorship, protections Universities and Colleges - Public postsecondary education, student-led organizations, faculty sponsorship, protections

Amendment	House Floor Amendment 4
Sponsor	L. Willner
Summary	Retain all original provisions except remove the prohibition of a licensing authority from requiring diversity, equity, and inclusion trainings as a prerequisite to licensing or as grounds for discipline,
Index Headings	Licensing - Diversity, equity, and inclusion, licensure requirement, removal of prohibition Occupations and Professions - Diversity, equity, and inclusion, licensure requirement, removal of prohibition Workforce - Diversity, equity, and inclusion, licensure requirement, removal of prohibition

Amendment	House Floor Amendment 5
Sponsor	J. Watkins
Summary	Retain all original provisions and provide that nothing in Section 2 of the Act shall be construed to apply to or affect scholarships not administered by an institution.
Index Headings	Education, Finance - Diversity, equity, and inclusion prohibitions, exclude unaffiliated scholarships Education, Higher - Diversity, equity, and inclusion prohibitions, exclude unaffiliated scholarships Universities and Colleges - Diversity, equity, and inclusion prohibitions, exclude unaffiliated scholarships

Amendment	House Floor Amendment 6
Sponsor	G. Brown Jr.
Summary	Retain all provisions except delete restrictions on bias incident investigations.
Index Headings	Education, Higher - Bias incident investigations, permissibility Universities and Colleges - Bias incident investigations, permissibility

Amendment	House Floor Amendment 7
Sponsor	J. Decker
Summary	Retain all original provisions, except remove the requirements that each public postsecondary education institution provide the Personnel Cabinet and State Treasurer with the name, job title, duty station, and salary or wages of each employee each month beginning January 1, 2025, and to post the institution's itemized annual budget; limit the Council on Postsecondary Education's approval restrictions on new programs to programs that include a course or training of which the primary purpose is to indoctrinate participants with a discriminatory concept.
Index Headings	Education, Finance - Public postsecondary education institutions, employee compensation publication, removal Education, Higher - Public postsecondary education institutions, employee compensation publication, removal Education, Higher - Council on Postsecondary Education, program approval restrictions, indoctrination Public Officers and Employees - Public postsecondary education institutions, employee compensation publication, removal Public Salaries - Public postsecondary education institutions, employee compensation publication, removal State Agencies - Council on Postsecondary Education, program approval restrictions, indoctrination State Employees - Public postsecondary education institutions, employee compensation publication, removal Treasurer - Public postsecondary education institutions, employee compensation publication, removal Universities and Colleges - Public postsecondary education institutions, employee compensation publication, removal Universities and Colleges - Council on Postsecondary Education, program approval restrictions, indoctrination

Amendment	Senate Floor Amendment 1
Sponsor	G. Neal
Summary	Retain all original provisions, except remove the prohibition of a licensing authority from requiring diversity, equity, and inclusion trainings as a prerequisite to licensing or as grounds for discipline.
Index Headings	Licensing - Diversity, equity, and inclusion, licensure requirement, removal of prohibition Occupations and Professions - Diversity, equity, and inclusion, licensure requirement, removal of prohibition Workforce - Diversity, equity, and inclusion, licensure requirement, removal of prohibition

Amendment	Senate Floor Amendment 2
Sponsor	G. Neal
Summary	Retain all original provisions and provide that nothing in Section 2 of the Act shall be construed to apply to or affect scholarships not administered by an institution.
Index Headings	Education, Finance - Diversity, equity, and inclusion prohibitions, exclude unaffiliated scholarships Education, Higher - Diversity, equity, and inclusion prohibitions, exclude unaffiliated scholarships Universities and Colleges - Diversity, equity, and inclusion prohibitions, exclude unaffiliated scholarships

Amendment	Senate Floor Amendment 3
Sponsor	G. Neal
Summary	Retain all provisions, except delete restrictions on bias incident investigations.
Index Headings	Education, Higher - Bias incident investigations, permissibility Universities and Colleges - Bias incident investigations, permissibility

Amendment	Senate Floor Amendment 4
Sponsor	G. Neal
Summary	Retain all original provisions and specifically exclude faculty and staff sponsorship of student-led organizations from the prohibitions of Section 2 of this Act.
Index Headings	Education, Higher - Public postsecondary education, student-led organizations, faculty sponsorship, protections Universities and Colleges - Public postsecondary education, student-led organizations, faculty sponsorship, protections

Amendment	Senate Floor Amendment 5
Sponsor	G. Neal
Summary	Retain original provisions, except restrict the definition of "resource" to moneys appropriated by the General Assembly.
Index Headings	Education, Finance - Diversity, equity, and inclusion prohibitions, restriction of resource use, limit to appropriations Education, Higher - Diversity, equity, and inclusion prohibitions, restriction of resource use, limit to appropriations Universities and Colleges - Diversity, equity, and inclusion prohibitions, restriction of resource use, limit to appropriations

Amendment	Senate Floor Amendment 6
Sponsor	G. Neal
Summary	Retain all provisions, except replace term "differential treatment or benefits" with "prejudicial treatment or benefits."
Index Headings	Education, Higher - Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, prejudicial treatment or benefits Universities and Colleges - Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, prejudicial treatment or benefits Civil Rights - Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, prejudicial treatment or benefits

Amendment	Senate Floor Amendment 7
Sponsor	G. Neal
Summary	Delete all provisions; provide that a public postsecondary education institution shall not use a race-based admissions policy.
Index Headings	Education, Higher - Race-based admissions policies; prohibition Universities and Colleges - Race-based admissions policies; prohibition Civil Rights - Public postsecondary education institutions, race-based admissions policies; prohibition

Amendment	Senate Floor Amendment 8
Sponsor	K. Herron
Summary	Retain original provisions, except include profession and county or region of residency among the list of characteristics that cannot be the basis of differential treatment or benefits throughout the bill.
Index Headings	Education, Higher - Diversity, equity, and inclusion prohibitions, profession and county of residence, inclusion Universities and Colleges - Diversity, equity, and inclusion prohibitions, profession and county of residence, inclusion

Amendment	Senate Floor Amendment 9
Sponsor	G. Neal
Summary	Retain original provisions, except remove prohibitions related to soliciting or considering applicants statements related to experience with or views on religion, race, sex, color, or national origin.
Index Headings	Education, Higher - Diversity statements, permission to consider, prohibition to compel Universities and Colleges - Diversity statements, permission to consider, prohibition to compel Civil Rights - Diversity statements, permission to consider, prohibition to compel

Amendment	Senate Floor Amendment 10
Sponsor	G. Neal
Summary	Maintain provisions related to providing differential treatment or benefits in the context of student admissions; delete all other provisions related to differential treatment or benefits in other contexts; retain all other provisions.
Index Headings	Education, Higher - Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, student admissions, prohibition Universities and Colleges - Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, student admissions, prohibition Civil Rights - Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, student admissions, prohibition

Amendment	Senate Floor Amendment 11
Sponsor	G. Neal
Summary	Retain original provisions; provide that nothing in Section 2 is to restrict public universities from collaborating with private sector partners, workforce development organizations, or community programs.
Index Headings	Education, Higher - Private sector partnerships, exclusion from scope of diversity, equity, and inclusion prohibitions Universities and Colleges - Private sector partnerships, exclusion from scope of diversity, equity, and inclusion prohibitions Civil Rights - Private sector partnerships, exclusion from scope of diversity, equity, and inclusion prohibitions

Amendment	Senate Floor Amendment 12
Sponsor	G. Neal
Summary	Require that nothing in the Act is to prohibit programs designed to enhance student retention, mentorship, academic advising, or career development, provided these programs do not grant preferential treatment based on race.
Index Headings	Education, Higher - Public postsecondary education, diversity, equity, and inclusion, limitations Licensing - Public postsecondary education, diversity, equity, and inclusion, limitations Universities and Colleges - Public postsecondary education, diversity, equity, and inclusion, limitations Workforce - Public postsecondary education, diversity, equity, and inclusion, limitations Education, Finance - Public postsecondary education, diversity, equity, and inclusion, limitations

Amendment	Senate Floor Amendment 13
Sponsor	G. Neal
Summary	Require that nothing in the Act is to be construed to permit discrimination or exclusion based on religion, including but not limited to policies, programs, or decisions that result in anti-Semitic actions; require public universities and K-12 institutions to ensure that all diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, student success initiatives, and institutional policies remain inclusive and do not create a hostile environment for individuals based on religious identity.
Index Headings	Education, Finance - Public postsecondary education, diversity, equity, and inclusion, limitations Education, Higher - Public postsecondary education, diversity, equity, and inclusion, limitations Licensing - Public postsecondary education, diversity, equity, and inclusion, limitations Universities and Colleges - Public postsecondary education, diversity, equity, and inclusion, limitations Workforce - Public postsecondary education, diversity, equity, and inclusion, limitations

Amendment	Senate Floor Amendment 14
Sponsor	G. Neal
Summary	Retain original provisions; require that nothing in Section 2 restricts faculty members’ academic freedom in curriculum development, professional development, research, or classroom discussions, provided such activities comply with existing federal and state nondiscrimination laws.
Index Headings	Education, Higher - Diversity, equity, and inclusion prohibitions, exclude academic freedom Universities and Colleges - Diversity, equity, and inclusion prohibitions, exclude academic freedom Civil Rights - Diversity, equity, and inclusion prohibitions, exclude academic freedom

Amendment	Senate Floor Amendment 15
Sponsor	G. Neal
Summary	Retain original provisions; provide that nothing in Section 2 shall restrict the use of college affordability programs, scholarships, or grants based on socioeconomic status, first-generation college status, or other race-neutral criteria designed to increase access to higher education.
Index Headings	Education, Higher - Diversity, equity, and inclusion prohibitions, preserve college affordability programs Universities and Colleges - Diversity, equity, and inclusion prohibitions, preserve college affordability programs Civil Rights - Diversity, equity, and inclusion prohibitions, preserve college affordability programs

Amendment	Senate Floor Amendment 16
Sponsor	G. Neal
Summary	Retain original provisions; require that institutions retain the right to collect and analyze demographic data for institutional research, accreditation, compliance with federal reporting requirements, and assessment of student outcomes, provided such data is not used as a factor in admissions decisions.
Index Headings	Education, Higher - Diversity, equity, and inclusion omnibus prohibitions, exclusion of data collection from scope Universities and Colleges - Diversity, equity, and inclusion omnibus prohibitions, exclusion of data collection from scope

Amendment	Senate Floor Amendment 17
Sponsor	G. Williams
Summary	Retain all original provisions; add a penalty of 1% of all state-appropriated funds for an institution that is found by the State Auditor to have spent money in violation of Section 2 of this Act for 2 or more audits within a 10 year period.
Index Headings	Education, Finance - Public postsecondary audits of diversity, equity, and inclusion spending, penalty for second offense Education, Higher - Public postsecondary audits of diversity, equity, and inclusion spending, penalty for second offense Treasurer - Public postsecondary audits of diversity, equity, and inclusion spending, penalty for second offense Universities and Colleges - Public postsecondary audits of diversity, equity, and inclusion spending, penalty for second offense Auditor of Public Accounts - Public postsecondary audits of diversity, equity, and inclusion spending, penalty for second offense

Amendment	Senate Floor Amendment 18
Sponsor	G. Williams
Summary	Retain all original provisions; create a cause of action to permit a qualified individual to file a civil action against council or a public postsecondary education institution for injunctive relief and limited damages arising from a violation of certain sections of this Act; waive sovereign and governmental immunity for the limited purpose of bringing this claim; prohibit retaliation.
Index Headings	Education, Higher - Public postsecondary education, use of resources on diversity, equity, and inclusion, civil action Universities and Colleges - Public postsecondary education, use of resources on diversity, equity, and inclusion, civil action Claims - Public postsecondary education, use of resources on diversity, equity, and inclusion, civil action

Amendment	Senate Floor Amendment 19
Sponsor	S. West
Summary	Make title amendment.
Index Headings	Title Amendments - HB 4