Gordon vetoes one anti-DEI bill, signs another

SHERIDAN (WNE)  — Lawmakers sent two bills aimed at combating diversity, equity and inclusion programming late last week to Gov. Mark Gordon, who vetoed one and signed another.

Senate File 103, “Terminating and defunding diversity, equity and inclusion,” would have banned governmental entities from spending any money on DEI programming. After previously not concurring with House amendments to the bill, the Senate receded its position and sent the bill to the governor’s desk last week.

Gordon vetoed the bill Tuesday evening, writing in his veto letter that the bill could adversely impact the University of Wyoming and the state’s community colleges.

“While transparency and accountability in public spending are essential, this bill introduces ill-defined and overly broad restrictions, creates significant legal ambiguities, and risks unintended consequences that could negatively impact Wyoming’s higher education institutions and workforce development,” Gordon wrote in his veto letter.

Gordon added that DEI policies and personnel were rolled back at UW and community colleges last year, though the Legislature gave the institutions flexibility to achieve their missions while navigating the prohibition on DEI activities.

“(Senate File 103) is an attempt to limit curriculum and course requirements at the University of Wyoming and community colleges with a sledgehammer without regard to what gets smashed,” Gordon wrote in his veto letter.

In the same letter, Gordon praised House Bill 147, “Prohibition of institutional discrimination.”

He signed the House bill into law Tuesday and said it “provides a more precise, enforceable and legally sound approach,” with a similar goal. HB 147 will prohibit governmental entities from participating in any DEI program, activity or policy, as well as prohibit those entities from requiring their employees or students to participate in any DEI programming. The bill will become law July 1.

This story was published on March 6, 2025.