News
Weekly Legislative Update - February 21, 2025
- Friday, February 21st, 2025
The 2025 legislative session passed the half-way point this week, with just 14 days left. Over 1200 bills have filed this session between the House of Representatives and Senate. Several postsecondary bills advanced this week; a summary is provided below.
House Bill 424
House Bill (HB)424 is an act relating to employment at public postsecondary education institutions. HB424 requires the boards of each public university to approve a performance and productivity evaluation process for presidents and faculty members by January 1, 2026. HB424 passed the House Postsecondary Education Committee with a committee substitute on February 18, it is now waiting for final passage of the House. You can view HB424 HCS1 here.
House Bill 427
House Bill (HB)427 requires the Council on Postsecondary Education to create statewide transfer pathways between the public postsecondary institutions in the high-demand baccalaureate programs. HB427 passed the House on February 20 and has been received in the Senate. You can view HB427 here.
Senate Joint Resolution 55
Senate Joint Resolution (SJR)55 directs the board of each public university to adopt policies to combat antisemitism. SJR55 with Senate Committee Substitute 1 passed the Senate Education Committee on February 20. You can view SJR55 SCS1 here.
Other bills to note that have yet to receive committee hearings are listed below.
House Bill 4
House Bill (HB)4 prohibits a public postsecondary education institution from providing differential treatment or benefits on the basis of an individual’s religion, race, sex, color or national origin. HB4 has been referred to the House Postsecondary Education Committee but has not been scheduled for a hearing. You can view HB4 here.
House Bill 499
House Bill (HB)499 removes prohibitive language from statute and would provide a pathway for the Council on Postsecondary Education to approve research doctoral degree programs at the comprehensive universities. HB499 has been referred to the House Postsecondary Education Committee but has not been scheduled for a hearing. You can view HB499 here.
You can view all legislation WKU is tracking here.