Photo supplied, Utah Senate

SALT LAKE CITY — A Weber County lawmaker is targeting efforts in Utah universities to proactively recruit minority students and faculty or provide them with “special benefits.”

Utah Sen. John Johnson, a conservative North Ogden Republican, introduced a bill Thursday that would prohibit funding of “diversity, equity and inclusion offices or officers” at Utah universities. Weber State University in Ogden and Utah State University in Logan, where he works, both have divisions aimed at promoting diversity, equity and inclusion among staff and students, among other Utah institutions.

SB 283 was referred to the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee for consideration and, according to online legislative records, had not yet received a hearing.

Johnson, who didn’t immediately respond to queries Thursday seeking comment, has previously taken aim at what he views as worrisome developments in education and, in social media posts, “woke” culture.

Last year, he helped finance a film that argues that critical race theory is embedded in some Utah schools, a flashpoint issue among U.S. conservatives. Johnson, a professor of data analytics and information systems at Utah State, also unsuccessfully pursued legislation banning the teaching of “divisive concepts” in Utah schools.

Photo supplied, Utah Senate

Weber State spokesperson Bryan Magaña said university officials would keep tabs on the bill as the legislative process proceeds, but he offered no judgement on the proposal.

“Weber State remains committed to the equity framework outlined in our university strategic plan and our equity, diversity and inclusion goals,” he said in an emailed statement. “We welcome the opportunity to engage in further discussion with our state lawmakers to help them understand the importance of EDI in keeping Utah economically vibrant.”

In prohibiting use of funds on “diversity, equity and inclusion” initiatives, the bill singles out efforts “to manipulate or otherwise influence the composition of the faculty or student body with reference to sex, race, color, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation,” except in accordance with state or federal anti-discrimination laws. It would also nix university efforts “to promote differential treatment of or provide special benefits to” people based on their sex, race, color, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation.

Funds that had been used for diversity, equity and inclusion efforts should instead be used for “merit scholarships for lower- and middle-income students and to reduce tuition for in-state students,” reads Johnson’s proposal.

Weber State last year announced creation of a new division to bolster equity, diversion and inclusion, overseen by Adrienne Andrews, a university vice president.

University officials at the time said the aim was to bolster outreach not just to Black, Hispanic, LGBTQ and other students belonging to traditionally marginalized groups, but to everyone. By way of example, Andrews noted that most nursing students at Weber State are non-Hispanic white females and that, as part of efforts to bolster inclusion, her office could augment outreach to white male students, as well as other male students of color.

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