Text of MO SB 1192 (2026)

SECOND REGULAR SESSION SENATE BILL NO. 1192 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY INTRODUCED BY SENATOR BROWN (26). 4636S.02I KRISTINA MARTIN, Secretary AN ACT To amend chapter 173, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion practices at higher education accrediting agencies, with penalty provisions. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows: Section A. Chapter 173, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto 1 one new section, to be known as section 173.1570, to read as 2 follows: 3 173.1570. 1. As used in this section, the following 1 terms mean: 2 (1) "Accreditation", the status of public recognition 3 that an accrediting agency grants to an educational 4 institution, program, or both that meets the agency's 5 standards and requirements; 6 (2) "Accrediting agency", a person or governmental 7 entity that conducts accrediting activities and makes 8 decisions concerning the accreditation or pre-accreditation 9 status of institutions, programs, or both. The term 10 includes any national, regional, or programmatic accrediting 11 agency; 12 (3) "Diversity, equity, and inclusion", any 13 differential treatment of, or assignment of any fault or 14 blame to, an individual or group at an institution of higher 15 education based on race; color; ethnicity; national origin, 16 other than as it relates to immigration status under United 17 SB 1192 2 States law; sex, other than as it relates to sex-segregated 18 facilities, such as dormitories and bathrooms, or to 19 athletic programs; sexual orientation; or gender identity; 20 (4) "Diversity, equity, and inclusion practice or 21 procedure", any initiative, policy, program, mandate, 22 requirement, standard, metric, statistic, or other practice 23 or procedure related to diversity, equity, and inclusion; 24 (5) "Institution of higher education", a public 25 postsecondary educational institution in this state, 26 including all of the institution's programs, departments, 27 divisions, offices, centers, colleges, and schools, and any 28 person acting on behalf of any of the foregoing. 29 2. When taking any action involving the accreditation 30 or renewal of accreditation of an institution of higher 31 education, an accrediting agency shall not: 32 (1) Base its accrediting decision in any way on a 33 review or consideration of any diversity, equity, and 34 inclusion practice or procedure; 35 (2) Collect information related to any diversity, 36 equity, and inclusion practice or procedure; or 37 (3) Include any requirement related to any diversity, 38 equity, and inclusion practice or procedure. 39 3. An accrediting agency shall implement policies to 40 ensure that a person who has any decision-making or 41 recommendation authority related to the accreditation or 42 renewal of accreditation of an institution of higher 43 education does not collect and is not presented with any 44 information regarding any diversity, equity, and inclusion 45 practice or procedure. 46 4. Any current or former student or employee of an 47 institution of higher education may bring a civil action 48 against an accrediting agency that conducts accrediting 49 SB 1192 3 activities and makes decisions concerning the accreditation 50 of such institution for any violation of subsection 2 or 3 51 of this section that occurred while such person was a 52 student or employee of such institution and that involves 53 such agency's accreditation of such institution. Such 54 action shall be brought in the county where the violation 55 occurred. If the court finds that the accrediting agency 56 violated subsection 2 or 3 of this section, in addition to 57 any other legal or equitable remedies which in the judgment 58 of the court shall be appropriate, the accrediting agency 59 shall pay: 60 (1) The prevailing party's reasonable attorney's fees 61 and court costs; 62 (2) Damages to the prevailing party in an amount equal 63 to three times the amount of money paid by the institution 64 of higher education to the accrediting agency during the 65 applicable time period, which shall be defined as the 66 duration of the accrediting agency's violation, as well as 67 the five years prior to the violation, including dues, fees, 68 and any other payments; and 69 (3) Civil penalties of either: 70 (a) Up to one thousand dollars per student who 71 attended the institution of higher education at the time 72 when the violation occurred; or 73 (b) If no students attended the institution of higher 74 education at the time when the violation occurred, up to one 75 thousand dollars per student who attended the institution 76 during the semester immediately preceding the time when the 77 violation occurred. 78 5. Any violation of subsection 2 or 3 of this section 79 shall constitute an unlawful discriminatory practice, as 80 defined in section 213.010, and an unfair and unlawful 81 SB 1192 4 practice, as provided in subsection 1 of section 407.020. 82 The attorney general may investigate and seek appropriate 83 remedies for any violation of subsection 2 or 3 of this 84 section to the full extent provided by law. 85 ✓