Arkansas lawmaker Dan Sullivan plans anti-DEI legislation

State Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Jonesboro) said Tuesday he plans to file legislation to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs at Arkansas colleges and universities, the Arkansas Advocate reports .

Why it matters: Supporters of DEI initiatives say they address under-representation of minority groups on campuses.

• Opponents generally say the programs promote an agenda elevating racial or gender identity over individual merit.

Driving the news: Sullivan spoke at a meeting of the Arkansas Legislative Council's Higher Education subcommittee about a study he requested to be conducted regarding DEI, but he did not present a final copy of the report.

The big picture: In part, pressure from a Tennessee conservative activist is pushing corporate America to back away from previous pledges that included DEI.

• About a third of U.S. states have taken some action against it, the AP reported this spring.

Flashback: The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville said in June 2023 it would close its DEI office and reassign people to student success, student affairs, human resources, the Office of Equal Opportunity and Compliance, and university advancement.

What they're saying: "They're based on need, and that's what the bill says — we're going to base things on need, we're going to base things on merit," Sullivan told Arkansas Advocate.

• "So if you have a need, and you qualify for assistance from the state, you qualify based on your need, not whether you're a different race or whether you're a different gender, whether you're a different sex, whether you're a different ethnicity."

What's next: The next General Assembly of the Arkansas Legislature is set to convene Jan. 13.