CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – A Clarksville member of the Tennessee General Assembly has proposed legislation that would put a stop to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in government entities and public universities.

Rep. Aron Maberry, R-Clarksville, has filed the two related pieces of legislation, according to a news release from his office.

Preventing DEI-based hiring

The “Dismantle DEI Act” or House Bill 622, would prohibit local governments and public universities, such as Austin Peay State University, from making hiring decisions based on race, religion, sex, national origin, age or disability, the release said. Local governments include county, municipal and metropolitan entities, such as the City of Clarksville and Montgomery County Government.

“Every Tennessean deserves an equal opportunity for employment based on their abilities, not their background,” Maberry said in the release. “The Dismantle DEI Act promotes fairness, merit and efficiency in local governments and public universities. It champions equality, not anti-diversity, and encourages inclusion through fair and unbiased hiring practices.”

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Dismantling DEI programs

A related bill, the “Dismantling DEI Departments Act,” or House Bill 923, would prevent state and local governments, as well as public higher education institutions, from maintaining offices or departments that promote or require discriminatory preferences in efforts to advance DEI.

“We must ensure our government entities and public universities focus on fairness and equality for all students and employees,” Maberry said. “DEI initiatives promote discrimination and undermine these core values. Dismantling these departments and offices is a significant step toward a more unified future for all, and I’m proud to spearhead this effort for our state.”

If the measure is passed, all policies, activities, regulations and enforcement actions by DEI offices would be void.

The laws would not apply to private businesses or employers. Tennessee would join several states, including Texas and Utah, in passing similar legislation.

‘Misleading narratives,’ distortions of truth

Maberry’s proposals have drawn opposition, saying the recent anti-DEI backlash is based on “misleading narratives.”

“The idea that DEI initiatives result in hiring decisions based only on identity distorts the truth,” said Dr. Dametraus L. Jaggers, a local pastor, education leader and organizational development consultant, in a commentary sent to Clarksville Now. “DEI programs ensure that all qualified individuals – regardless of background – have a fair opportunity to succeed in the hiring process. These initiatives do not promote exclusion; they work to remove historical barriers that have unfairly limited opportunities for many.”

Jaggers said DEI initiatives do not replace or diminish hiring based on merit. “DEI efforts do not mean hiring unqualified individuals – they ensure that everyone, regardless of race or background, has a fair chance. The claim that DEI forces hiring based on identity rather than ability is a misleading narrative designed to roll back progress and maintain inequities that have long existed,” he said

DEI initiatives have been proven to improve workplace success, both public and private, Jaggers said. “Decades of research demonstrate that DEI leads to stronger organizations (public and private), fairer work environments, and better business outcomes. DEI advances merit; it does not limit it.”

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