After interruptions from protestors, members of the North Carolina House of Representatives passed Wednesday a proposal to ban state agencies from engaging in pro-diversity efforts under the umbrella of diversity, equity and inclusion. The House voted 69-45 along party lines to approve House Bill 171, under which no state agency could “promote, support, fund, implement or maintain workplace DEI programs, policies, or initiatives.” All House Republicans present voted for the legislation. It would also ban DEI-focused training sessions and instruct the state auditor — Republican Dave Boliek — to conduct periodic audits of state agencies to ensure compliance with its proposed DEI ban.

A state employee who violates the law could lose their job. House Bill 171, which now goes to the state Senate, is one of multiple anti-DEI bills making its way through the legislature. Others focus on ridding schools and universities of DEI efforts.

The proposal comes a year after lawmakers banned public universities and state agencies from asking current or prospective employees to state their opinions on social issues in a law that also broadly banned training programs if they endorse certain ideas about racism, sexism and other topics. It also comes as President Donald Trump seeks to end DEI programs in the federal government. In North Carolina, Republicans have controlled the state legislature since 2011 and have won leadership roles in several state agencies in recent years.

Democrats currently lead the governor’s office, attorney general’s office, Department of Public Instruction, and secretary of state’s office. Some agency heads recently told GOP legislative leaders, after being brought in to testify under oath, that they don't have DEI policies in their offices. Rep. Brenden Jones, a Columbus County Republican who sponsored the bill, said the bill is needed to prevent discrimination and restore fair hiring practices, suggesting that state agencies are hiring people for reasons unrelated to their qualifications.

“Jobs should go to the most qualified, not the most politically favored,” said Jones, the Republican Majority Leader. He added: “Diversity is a great thing. Discrimination is a bad thing.” Democratic opponents argued that the bill was unnecessary and could cause agencies to hire fewer minorities because they’re afraid of being investigated by the state auditor.

Rep. Terry Brown, D-Mecklenburg, said the bill serves only to demonize minorities. “The only thing this bill is doing is continuing to perpetuate the myth and the rumor … that the only reason you’re down there is because they [minority state employees] are up there,” Brown said. “But that’s not the truth.” Jones pointed out that he had amended the bill in response to criticism, removing language from the bill that sought criminal penalties for violating his proposed law.

He also listed a number of international corporations and other state governments that are cutting DEI programs. “The tide is turning,” Jones said. “Major companies that once embraced DEI are walking them back not because [the companies] are extreme, but because they saw the division.

They saw the cost. They saw the lawsuits, and the lack of results.” Jones listed a number of international corporations and other state governments that are cutting DEI programs. He also pointed out that he had amended the bill in response to criticism, removing language from the bill that sought criminal penalties for violating his proposed law.

House members debated the bill for more than an hour, with Republican Speaker Destin Hall occasionally pausing discussions to reprimand protesters in the gallery. At one point, Hall asked security to remove someone who shouted objections to the bill. Rep. Amos Quick, D-Guilford, said Jones’ proposal wrongly assumes that employers will always treat minority job candidates fairly.

“Certainly progress has been made, we all agree with that,” Quick said. “But there still exists racism, sexism, ageism, and ability-ism that should have no place in modern America and DEI initiatives seek to address and overcome those ‘isms’.” Rep. Brian Echevarria, the lone Black Republican in the state legislature, spoke in favor of the bill. The Cabarrus County Republican said DEI programs have been overfunded and their results are underwhelming.

“The black community is low on the DEI benefit list,” Echevarria said. He also accused bill critics of wrongly believing that “minorities aren’t good enough to compete in a free market” Rep. Zack Hawkins, D-Durham, said DEI policies exist to lift up people from historically marginalized groups — adding that state lawmakers direct funds to disadvantaged groups on a regular basis. For example, Hawkins said, the state funds scholarships for students from rural areas and for small businesses hoping to compete in the marketplace.

“What’s wrong with lifting people up?” Hawkins said. “We practice diversity, equity and inclusion every single day in this chamber.”