DeSantis said Florida was the first to ‘eliminate DEI’ in higher ed. Is that true?

Florida was the second state to implement legislation targeting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in higher education, contrary to what Gov. Ron DeSantis said during an Aug. 13, 2025, speech in Hillsborough County.

However, it was a close race. 

North Dakota was the first state to do so when Gov. Doug Burgum signed Senate Bill 2247 into law in April 2023, which placed limitations on required diversity trainings and prevented institutions from asking students about their dedication to DEI initiatives. 

Just one month later, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 266 into law. The legislation placed budget restrictions on DEI programs and changed requirements for some general education classes that lawmakers said featured DEI content.

While it wasn’t the first state to enact anti-DEI laws, Florida’s status as a blueprint for GOP ideology made it highly-publicized.