TOPEKA— The Kansas House approved a bill on Monday that would prevent external organizations from forcing Kansas colleges to violate state laws for accreditation. The Senate bill, backed by conservative out-of-state groups, aims to push higher education away from certain ideologies. If passed, colleges and universities in Kansas would have until Dec. 31 to update accreditation policies and practices. They would need to select accreditation agencies from a U.S. Department of Education list. The bill would also allow institutions to sue organizations that take adverse actions against them for complying with state law. Rep. Jerry Stogsdill argued that the legislation was unnecessary, as the Kansas Board of Regents already has the authority to ensure accreditation follows the law.
Some lawmakers believe the bill could lead to the defunding of colleges or universities that don’t comply. Rep. Linda Featherston expressed concerns that the legislation could jeopardize essential programs in Kansas. The bill must pass through the Senate before reaching Governor Laura Kelly’s desk for final approval.
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