Figure A
10 of 12 states that have enacted anti-DEI policies in 2025 also have RTW laws
| State | “Right to work” | Key | Anti-DEI Legislation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Pre-2010 RTW | 2 | |
| Alaska | Non-RTW | 1 | |
| Arizona | Pre-2010 RTW | 2 | |
| Arkansas | Pre-2010 RTW | 2 | In February 2025, State Sen. Jonathan Dismang and State Rep. Matthew J. Shepherd, both Republicans, introduced a bill that would ban diversity statements in hiring and prohibit accreditors from requiring diversity statements, collecting information related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, or basing an accreditation decision on reviews of diversity, equity, and inclusion, among many other provisions. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed the bill into law on March 18, 2025. |
| California | Non-RTW | 1 | |
| Colorado | Non-RTW | 1 | |
| Connecticut | Non-RTW | 1 | |
| Delaware | Non-RTW | 1 | |
| Washington D.C. | 1 | ||
| Florida | Pre-2010 RTW | 2 | |
| Georgia | Pre-2010 RTW | 2 | |
| Hawaii | Non-RTW | 1 | |
| Idaho | Pre-2010 RTW | 2 | |
| Illinois | Non-RTW | 1 | |
| Indiana | Post-2010 RTW | 3 | In January 2025, State Sen. Gary Byrne, a Republican, introduced a bill that would ban diversity, equity, and inclusion offices and personnel, as well as internal DEI audits, at public universities. Gov. Mike Braun, a Republican, signed the bill into law in May 2025. |
| Iowa | Pre-2010 RTW | 2 | In March 2025, the Iowa House education committee introduced a bill that would ban public entities including state agencies, local governments, and community colleges from preferential hiring, funding DEI offices, or employing DEI officers. (The bill extends the restrictions that were placed on the public four-year colleges in 2024 to the community colleges.) The bill also restricts public colleges from requiring diversity training and having students to enroll in courses that include DEI or critical race theory as part of general-education or graduation requirements. Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, signed the bill into law in May 2025. The bill will take effect July 1, 2025. |
| Kansas | Pre-2010 RTW | 2 | |
| Kentucky | Post-2010 RTW | 3 | In February 2025, State Rep. Jennifer Decker, a Republican, introduced a bill that would prohibit diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at Kentucky public colleges. The bill would prohibit public colleges from establishing or maintaining a diversity, equity, and inclusion office; contracting or employing an individual to serve as a diversity, equity, and inclusion officer; or providing or participating in diversity, equity, and inclusion training. The bill also bans colleges from requiring diversity statements from faculty and ends race-conscious preferences in hiring and scholarships. The bill gained final legislative approval in March. Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, vetoed the bill, on March 20, 2025, calling it a bill of “hate.” Republican lawmakers then overturned Governor Beshear’s veto. The bill will go into effect on June 30, 2025. |
| Louisiana | Pre-2010 RTW | 2 | |
| Maine | Non-RTW | 1 | |
| Maryland | Non-RTW | 1 | |
| Massachusetts | Non-RTW | 1 | |
| Michigan | Post-2010 RTW | 3 | |
| Minnesota | Non-RTW | 1 | |
| Mississippi | Pre-2010 RTW | 2 | In February 2025, State Rep. Joey Hood, a Republican, introduced a bill that would ban DEI programs, diversity training, and the use of diversity statements in hiring. It would also prohibit the teaching of so-called divisive concepts including “transgender ideology, gender-neutral pronouns, heteronormativity, gender theory, sexual privilege, or any related formulation of these concepts.” Gov. Tate Reeves, a Republican, signed the bill into law in April 2025. |
| Missouri | Non-RTW | 1 | |
| Montana | Non-RTW | 1 | |
| Nebraska | Pre-2010 RTW | 2 | |
| Nevada | Pre-2010 RTW | 2 | |
| New Hampshire | Non-RTW | 1 | In April 2025, State Reps. Rich Nalevanko and Joe Sweeney, both Republicans, introduced a bill that would prohibit public colleges from implementing DEI programs, trainings, or policies, including “race-based hiring.” The bill also bans public colleges from entering contracts with DEI-related provisions. If public colleges are found in violation of the bill, legislators could stop the flow of state funding. Gov. Kelly Ayotte, a Republican, signed the bill into law. |
| New Jersey | Non-RTW | 1 | |
| New Mexico | Non-RTW | 1 | |
| New York | Non-RTW | 1 | |
| North Carolina | Pre-2010 RTW | 2 | |
| North Dakota | Pre-2010 RTW | 2 | |
| Ohio | Non-RTW | 1 | In January 2025, State Sen. Jerry C. Cirino, a Republican, introduced a bill that would ban diversity statements from being used in hiring, promotion, and admissions; diversity training; and DEI offices. Colleges would also need to “affirm and declare” that they provide “the fullest degree of intellectual diversity” and that they “seek out invited speakers who have diverse ideological or political views.” The companion House Bill 6 was also introduced in January 2025. The bill was signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine in March. |
| Oklahoma | Pre-2010 RTW | 2 | In January 2025, State Sen. Adam Pugh, a Republican, introduced a bill that would ban institutions from using state funding on “diversity, equity, and inclusion positions, departments, activities, procedures, or programs to the extent they grant preferential treatment based on one person’s particular race, color, ethnicity, or national origin over another’s.” It would also prohibit mandatory diversity training and loyalty oaths, the mandatory disclosure of pronouns, and the use of diversity statements in hiring. Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, signed the bill into law in May. |
| Oregon | Non-RTW | 1 | |
| Pennsylvania | Non-RTW | 1 | |
| Rhode Island | Non-RTW | 1 | |
| South Carolina | Pre-2010 RTW | 2 | |
| South Dakota | Pre-2010 RTW | 2 | |
| Tennessee | Pre-2010 RTW | 2 | In January 2025, State Rep. Jason Zachary, a Republican, introduced a bill that would ban affirmative action and prohibit using “race, color, ethnicity, or national origin” in university admissions, activities, and financial-aid decisions. State Sen. Paul Rose, also a Republican, introduced an identical bill in the Senate. Gov. Bill Lee signed the bill into law in April 2025. In January 2025, State Rep. Aron Maberry, a Republican, introduced a bill that would ban state colleges from considering “race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability” in hiring. State Sen. Jack Johnson, a Republican, introduced an identical bill in February. Gov. Bill Lee, also a Republican, signed the bill into law in May 2025. In February 2025, State Rep. Aron Maberry, a Republican, introduced a bill that would ban state colleges from having an office that “promotes or requires discriminatory preferences in an effort to increase diversity, equity, or inclusion.” State Sen. Jack Johnson, a Republican, introduced an identical bill in the Senate. Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, signed the bill into law in May 2025. |
| Texas | Pre-2010 RTW | 2 | In April 2025, State Sen. Brandon Creighton, a Republican, introduced a bill that would give public universities’ boards of regents significant control over the curriculum, including reviewing courses every five years to ensure they don’t include what content critics consider “DEI.” It also sets up a process in which anyone can file a complaint about compliance with SB 37 and establishes a statewide committee to evaluate which courses should and should not be part of the core curricula. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, signed the bill into law in June 2025. The bill will take effect on September 1, 2025. |
| Utah | Pre-2010 RTW | 2 | |
| Vermont | Non-RTW | 1 | |
| Virginia | Pre-2010 RTW | 2 | |
| Washington | Non-RTW | 1 | |
| West Virginia | Post-2010 RTW | 3 | In February 2025, State Sen. Randy Smith, a Republican, introduced a bill that would prohibit public colleges from requiring or soliciting diversity statements in hiring, promotion, or admissions and from giving preferential consideration to applicants, students, faculty, and staff members “on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation.” The bill would also ban mandatory diversity training and spending on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. It would prohibit in required courses the idea, among others, that “one race, ethnic group, or biological sex is morally, or intellectually superior to another race, ethnic group, or biological sex for any inherent or innate reason.” Gov. Patrick Morrisey, a Republican, signed the bill into law in May. |
| Wisconsin | Post-2010 RTW | 3 | |
| Wyoming | Pre-2010 RTW | 2 | In January 2025, State Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, a Republican, introduced a bill that would prohibit state-government entities, including the University of Wyoming and community colleges, from engaging in any diversity, equity, or inclusion program, activity, or policy. The legislation defines “diversity, equity, and inclusion” as “any program, activity, or policy that promotes differential or preferential treatment of individuals or classifies individuals on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity, or national origin.” In March 2025, Gov. Mark Gordon, a Republican, signed the bill into law. |
Note: Michigan enacted RTW in 2013, then in 2023 became the first state in nearly 60 years to repeal a RTW law. This change took effect February 13, 2024.
Sources: Author's analysis of Right-to-Work States, National Conference of State Legislatures, and the DEI Legislation Tracker, The Chronicle of Higher Education
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