The UT System has certified compliance with last session’s Senate Bill 17, which banned diversity, equity and inclusion offices on public university campuses, Archie Holmes Jr., executive vice chancellor for academic affairs, told the Texas House Committee on Higher Education Tuesday.

This comes after Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe), chair of the Senate K-16 education committee, and Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston), chair of the Senate higher education work group, said in a Feb. 26 letter schools that are not able “demonstrate adherence to the letter and spirit of the law will be met with full enforcement of mechanisms available to the Legislature, including impacts on … funding requests.”

The committee heard invited testimony from various higher education organizations, such as the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and institutions, such as the UT System and the Texas A&M System.

Rep. Tony Tinderholt (R-Arlington) thanked Holmes for the system’s compliance with the DEI ban.

“I want to say, thank you, but for the colleges that decide not to adhere to the standard, which is SB 17, I will do everything possible to take away funding — additional funding and old funding,” Tinderholt said.

When asked by committee members about what programs and scholarships were cut to comply with SB 17 and effects of compliance on jobs, Holmes said he didn’t have that information with him.

Holmes also said Stephen F. Austin State University, which was added to the UT System in 2023, is “a great addition to our institution.”

Rep. Terry Wilson closed Holmes’ testimony with talk of UT Austin’s recent move to the Southeastern Conference.

“I’m just gonna say I’m a little disappointed in the dialogue today,” Wilson joked to committee members. “Nobody’s talking about their first year in the SEC. I can’t believe it, but you get a bye on this one.”