Rejecting Racism in Higher Education Act; enact.

SB 2219, the "Rejecting Racism in Higher Education Act," prohibits Mississippi public and private postsecondary institutions from using state funds or accepting federal funds tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. It bans race-based student tracking, segregation, or differential treatment (except where required by law) and prohibits staff or students from being compelled to support racial preferences or "collective guilt" theories. The bill mandates that institutions lose state funding if they violate these provisions and allows individuals to sue for $1 million in damages. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and would have directly affected all higher education institutions receiving state funding in Mississippi.