Multiple States Enact DEI Bans, Conservative Policies

On July 1, multiple U.S. states, including Kentucky, Idaho, Indiana, and Iowa, enacted a series of new laws reflecting a conservative legislative trend. Kentucky's laws include a ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs at public universities, new abortion restrictions, protections against unauthorized drone surveillance, and tax cuts, many overriding the governor’s veto. Idaho passed the Medical Freedom Act prohibiting mandatory medical interventions, harsher penalties for child sex abuse, the option of firing squads for executions, DEI rollbacks, school choice tax credits, and major tax cuts. Indiana introduced bans on luxury vehicles for state officials, expanded transgender sports restrictions, DEI cutbacks in universities, student ID voting restrictions, and new labeling rules for lab-grown meat. Iowa enacted bans on DEI programs, removed gender identity protections from civil rights law, and restricted cellphone use while driving. These changes highlight a coordinated rollback of DEI initiatives and a focus on conservative priorities across several states.