Scores of people turned out Tuesday to testify well into the night on bills being considered by Nebraska lawmakers that target diversity initiatives and higher education programs, mirroring proposals by Republicans across the country. The bills before the state Legislature’s Education Committee included one that would ban diversity, equity and inclusion — known as DEI — programs and offices at state colleges and universities. Similar bills have been introduced in Republican-led legislatures across the country as the 2024 election year heats up. Already this year, Republican lawmakers have proposed about 50 bills in 20 states that would restrict DEI initiatives or require their public disclosure. Among them were several young people of color who grew up in the state or Nebraska college students who told lawmakers of the discrimination they've faced.

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Persons: Sen, Dave Murman, cosigners, ”, ” Jess Lammers, Mia Perales, Ricki Barber, ” Barber, ” Sen, Loren Lippincott, —, ” Lippincott, Chris Kabourek, “, ” It's Organizations: Nebraska, Republican, Education, “, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NAACP, Big Locations: Nebraska, Holdrege, Lincoln, Iowa, Florida, North Dakota, Texas