From left: Sens. Tyler Johnson and Gary Byrne talk as discussion continues on an anti-DEI bill they co-authored. The Senate argued over the legislation for hours on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. Photo by Leslie Bonilla Muñiz, Indiana Capital Chronicle.

By Casey Smith
Indiana Capital Chronicle

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana senators advanced a hotly debated bill Thursday, Feb. 6, that cracks down on diversity, equity and inclusion in schools and state government.

Senate Bill 289 advanced from the chamber in a 34-13 vote after more than three hours of floor debate — and following a contentious, unprecedented challenge to Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith’s Senate presidency.

While presiding over the bill’s debate, Beckwith posted on his personal X account that Indiana “torpedoed woke indoctrination” by passing the legislation. But Senate Bill 289 was still being debated, and Beckwith was in charge of the chamber.

Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, middle, consults a screen during a point of order aimed at him, on Thursday Feb. 6, 2025. Democrats condemned him for posting on his X account during the debate he was presiding over. Photo by Leslie Bonilla Muñiz, Indiana Capital Chronicle.

Tensions boiled over as Democrats objected to the post. Their call to remove Beckwith as the Senate chair was unsuccessful, however.

Four Republicans crossed party lines to vote against the legislation.

Key provisions in the bill, authored by Republican Sen. Gary Byrne, prohibit mandatory DEI training in K-12 public schools and restrict DEI programs within state universities.

The legislation was amended earlier in the week to include pieces of a related measure, Senate Bill 235, authored by Sen. Tyler Johnson, R-Leo. That language would bar state agencies and colleges from funding DEI offices or employees and from bestowing contracts or grants on entities that mandate DEI training. It also lets Indiana’s attorney general sue for violations.

Democrats pressed Byrne about what agency operations and school curricula would specifically be affected or outlawed under the bill. The Republican senator largely dodged those questions and instead repeatedly maintained that his bill “is about transparency and ending discrimination.”

Many Republicans nationally believe that DEI — which aims to increase participation of women, people of color and other minority groups — is used to discriminate against others. But no one specifically said white people in Thursday, Feb. 6’s debate.

‘Transparency And Ending Discrimination’

DEI is explicitly described in the legislation “as any effort” to do the following:

1. Manipulate or otherwise influence the composition of employees with reference to race, sex, color, or ethnicity, which does not include ensuring color blind and race neutral hiring in accordance with state and federal anti-discrimination laws.
2. Promote differential treatment of or provide special benefits to individuals on the basis of race, sex, color, or ethnicity.
3. Promote or promulgate policies or procedures designed or implemented with reference to race, sex, color, or ethnicity that are not policies or procedures approved in writing by the attorney general for the sole purpose of ensuring compliance with any applicable court order or state or federal law.
4. Promote or promulgate training, programming, or activities designed or implemented with reference to race, sex, color, or ethnicity that are not training, programming, or activities developed by an attorney and approved in writing by the attorney general for the sole purpose of ensuring compliance with any applicable court order or state or federal law.

Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Bremen, left, rubs his eyes during the long debate on the bill. Leslie Bonilla Muñiz, Indiana Capital Chronicle.

A carveout in the bill says DEI does not include efforts or materials that “inform individuals about the prohibition of discrimination based on protected status under state or federal law.” Also not affected are activities to “retain or support” students and employees.

State employees and students could still voluntarily attend DEI training or programs, per the bill.

They can additionally “independently” access DEI-related materials and conduct related research.

“Discussion or teaching” on DEI topics would be permitted in classrooms so long as the school “makes clear that it does not sponsor, approve, or endorse” those beliefs and concepts.

State agencies would further be banned from having DEI offices or hiring practices.

Byrne said schools and agencies would be mandated to post their “DEI-related materials” online so “citizens can see for themselves what ideals are being promoted.”

That section of the bill stipulates that all staff training and instructional materials concerning nondiscrimination, diversity, equity, inclusion, race, ethnicity, sex and bias must be publicly available.

Another piece of the proposal would prevent DEI training requirements for state-regulated health care licensure.

Democrats Push Back

Democrats and other opponents raised concerns that anti-DEI bill language will harm marginalized communities and suppress meaningful discussions on systemic inequality.

Byrne maintained that schools can still teach about slavery, the Holocaust, the Civil Rights Movement and other historical topics, although the bill does not say so, specifically.

After numerous Democrats questioned whether taxpayer-funded scholarships for minority students would be affected, Johnson said those awards “would be handled separately from the bill.” The Republican senator pointed to a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision ending the use of race in college admissions, including for scholarships.

Even so, Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray was confident scholarships, like those aimed at Black and Latino students, wouldn’t be impacted.

Reporter Leslie Bonilla Muñiz contributed.