Monitoring the Session

SB 184

Menéndez Bill Lets Colleges Run DEI Programs On Private Money

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. José MenéndezDSenate 26

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to an exemption from certain requirements regarding diversity, equity, or inclusion initiatives for certain activities not funded by state money provided by public institutions of higher education.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Federal money works too. Just keep the Legislature’s appropriations out of it.

This bill adds a new exception to the existing state law that limits diversity, equity, and inclusion offices and activities at public colleges and universities. It reaches Texas public colleges, plus any program, activity, or scholarship there that is paid for by private donations, federal money, or other money the Legislature did not appropriate. On the ground, schools could run DEI-type programs and scholarships again, as long as the money does not come from a legislative appropriation.

Labels

Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Nov 12, 2024 and referred to the Senate Education K-16 committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB184 · 2024-11-12

SOLD BY

Sen. José MenéndezDSenate 26

ITEM

relating to an exemption from certain requirements regarding diversity, equity, or inclusion initiatives for certain activities not funded by state money provided by public institutions of higher education.

WHAT IT DOES

Federal money works too. Just keep the Legislature’s appropriations out of it.

This bill adds a new exception to the existing state law that limits diversity, equity, and inclusion offices and activities at public colleges and universities. It reaches Texas public colleges, plus any program, activity, or scholarship there that is paid for by private donations, federal money, or other money the Legislature did not appropriate. On the ground, schools could run DEI-type programs and scholarships again, as long as the money does not come from a legislative appropriation.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to Education K-16
FILED UNDER

DEI BY ANOTHER NAME

THE TEXT

“a program, activity, or scholarship funded by a private donation, federal money, or money not appropriated by the legislature”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill exempts DEI programs, activities, and scholarships from the state's DEI limits whenever they are paid for with private, federal, or other non-appropriated money, so those programs can keep running.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

José Menéndez

Donors

Kickapoo Traditional Tribes of Texas$25KTexas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$20KTexas REALTORS Political Action Committee$10K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 5, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Kickapoo Traditional Tribes of Texas$25,000.00

Kickapoo Traditional Tribes of Texas

$25,000.00

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$25,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · on Jan 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Jan 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101065471.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$20,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$20,000.00

Cash
$20,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$20,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 5, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101012370, 101032316, 101072614.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$10,000.00

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$10,000.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$10,000.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 2, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101032316.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Kickapoo Traditional Tribes of Texas

$25,000.00

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$25,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · on Jan 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Jan 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101065471.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$20,000.00

Cash
$20,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$20,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 5, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101012370, 101032316, 101072614.

×

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$10,000.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$10,000.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 2, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101032316.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Fiscal

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Nov 12, 2024

02/03/2025 S Referred to Education K-16

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Senate committee · Education K-16 · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

Education--Higher--Finance

Education--Higher--General

Text

The text as introduced · 244 words

89R4606 RDR-D

By: Menéndez
S.B. No. 184

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to an exemption from certain requirements regarding

diversity, equity, or inclusion initiatives for certain activities

not funded by state money provided by public institutions of higher

education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 51.3525(d), Education Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(d) Subsection (b)(1) may not be construed to apply to:

(1) academic course instruction;

(2) scholarly research or a creative work by an

institution of higher education's students, faculty, or other

research personnel or the dissemination of that research or work;

(3) an activity of a student organization registered

with or recognized by an institution of higher education;

(4) guest speakers or performers on short-term

engagements;

(5) a policy, practice, procedure, program, or

activity to enhance student academic achievement or postgraduate

outcomes that is designed and implemented without regard to race,

sex, color, or ethnicity;

(6) data collection; [ or ]

(7) student recruitment or admissions ; or

(8) a program, activity, or scholarship funded by a

private donation, federal money, or money not appropriated by the

legislature .

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.