Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Research and Resources: Wisconsin

In February 2024, State Reps. Clint P. Moses and David Murphy, along with State Sen. Steve L. Nass, all Republicans, introduced a bill that would prohibit all public colleges from "using loyalty pledges." The bill would explicitly prohibit "conditioning" student admissions, student-organization funding, and faculty hiring on pledges or statements of personal support or opposition to "any political ideology or movement, including a pledge or statement regarding diversity, equity, inclusion, or related topics." The colleges would also be prohibited from "requesting or requiring" such statements or pledges. The University of Wisconsin system banned the use of diversity statements in hiring in June 2023. The bill passed the Assembly and the Senate, but Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, vetoed the bill in March 2024.

In January 2024, State Reps. David Murphy and Scott Allen, along with State Sen. Steve L. Nass, all Republicans, introduced a constitutional amendment that would prohibit all governmental entities in the state from "discriminating against, or granting preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, public education, public contracting, or public administration." The resolution passed the Assembly on February 15, 2024, and passed the Senate on March 12, 2024. Before it could take effect, the amendment would need to be passed in two successive legislative sessions and ratified in a statewide vote.

In October 2023, State Reps. Nik P. Rettinger and Gae Magnafici, both Republicans, introduced a bill that would change race-based requirements in college grants, loans, and student-retention plans to apply to "disadvantaged" students, on the basis of financial need, instead of "minority students." On November 7 the bill passed the Assembly. Later that month, State Sen. Eric Wimberger, a Republican, introduced an identical bill. The bill failed to pass the Senate before the end of the regular legislative session.

In July 2023, the Republican-controlled Legislature passed the 2023-25 state budget, which included a provision to cut 188 jobs in the University of Wisconsin system related to diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as a measure to cut $32 million from the system, roughly the same amount spent on DEI programming. Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, blocked the job cuts by partly vetoing the measure, but Evers did not veto the $32-million cut, which was instead slated for campus programs for work-force development. On December 13, after months of withholding funds and pay raises, the Board of Regents approved a deal between Robin Vos, the Republican speaker of the Assembly, and the university system to release $800 million in state funds if the system agreed to realign at least 43 DEI positions and support several other Republican priorities related to DEI.