WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 681

AN ACT relating to postsecondary education.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by George Brown and 2 co-sponsors

Strengthens Kentucky's public postsecondary system governance and planning by empowering the Council on Postsecondary Education to set missions, oversee programs, coordinate fundin

to Postsecondary Education (H)
#attorneygeneral #auditorofpublicaccounts #civilrights #education #finance #higher #vocational #licensing #occupationsandprofessions #reportsmandated #shorttitlesandpopularnames #stateagencies #universitiesandcolleges #workforce
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 681

Bill overview

  • Bill: HB 681
  • Session: 2026 Regular Session (Kentucky)
  • Jurisdiction: Kentucky
  • Short title: Restoration of Postsecondary Inclusion and Student Success Programs Act
  • Core aim: Reforms and clarifications related to governance, planning, funding, and policy for Kentucky’s public postsecondary education system, led by the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE). The measure emphasizes strategic planning, accountability, governance structure, tuition policies, capital project oversight, and non-discrimination/viewpoint neutrality considerations.

Note: The text provided is an “unofficial copy” with many sections carrying long-standing Kentucky postsecondary governance provisions, updated or consolidated within this bill. The summary below highlights the substantive provisions as presented.

Main purposes and intent

  • Strengthen the framework for strategic planning and accountability in Kentucky’s public postsecondary system.
  • Reaffirm and/or modify the powers and duties of the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) in setting missions, approving programs, overseeing capital projects, and guiding budget priorities.
  • Establish governance and appointment rules for state universities and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) boards to promote accountability, equity, and coordination.
  • Ensure coordination between public and private postsecondary sectors, transferability of credits, and avoidance of duplication of services.
  • Align postsecondary offerings with state workforce and literacy goals, and promote non-discrimination in instruction.

Key provisions and changes

  • Section 1 (KRS 164.020 amendments)

    • The CPE must develop, implement, and update the state’s strategic agenda and implementation plan, with advice from the Strategic Committee on Postsecondary Education.
    • Public accountability system: CPE must evaluate the system’s performance and prepare an annual report due by December 1, including how postsecondary institutions contribute to K-12 education quality.
    • Mission review: CPE reviews and approves the missions of all public universities and the KCTCS, with final authority on institutional compliance with missions.
    • System integration: Promote an integrated postsecondary system, with emphasis on credit transferability and information accessibility.
    • Federal planning responsiveness: CPE acts as Kentucky’s “single state agency” for federal planning obligations and may form advisory groups as needed.
    • Tuition and residency: Defines Kentucky residency criteria for tuition, sets factors to determine non-resident tuition, and allows a mandatory student fee for the KCTCS to support debt service on specific bonds (noting a cap of $8 per credit hour; fee ends when bonds are retired).
    • Bond-related financing: Requires local matching funds certification before bond issuance and outlines fund-use constraints.
    • Budget and policy: CPE devises allocation policies for state postsecondary funding; leads biennial budget process in cooperation with the appropriate committee.
    • Capital projects: Except for certain satellite-capacity projects, CPE reviews/approves capital construction and real property acquisitions, aligning with strategic agenda and missions.
    • Program approvals and restrictions: CPE approves all postsecondary offerings and may expedite new certificate/degree programs of vocational/occupational nature; prohibits establishing programs designed to indoctrinate on discriminatory concepts.
    • Program elimination: CPE can eliminate or modify existing programs based on alignment with missions, duplication, and cooperative delivery opportunities.
    • Equal educational opportunity: Institutions must meet equal educational opportunity goals or obtain temporary waivers upon substantial progress.
    • Technology coordination: Oversees coordination/transferability of technology and a state-wide technology plan.
    • Data, reporting, and advisory groups: Establishes financial reporting procedures, advisory groups, and annual status reporting to the Governor and LRC.
    • Independent institutions: Considers role and capacity of independent institutions when state needs are better met otherwise; may contract with or support independents.
    • Orientation/education: Requires onboarding and ongoing education for council and governing board members (six hours minimum for new members); cross-participation with private colleges is encouraged.
    • Private-public coordination: Encourages cooperation with private postsecondary institutions and private college associations.

  • Section 2 (KRS 164.011 amendments)

    • Reiterates creation and composition of the CPE, with terms, appointment processes, geographic/political/racial representation requirements, and rules for new appointees.
    • Introduces mandatory orientation/education for new appointees and terms for citizen members (six-year terms, with staggered expirations).
    • Sets eligibility and conflict-of-interest constraints for appointees, and outlines meeting/quorum requirements and removal provisions.

  • Section 3 (KRS 164.131 amendments)

    • Governing structure for the University of Kentucky (Board of Trustees) requiring attendance at CPE-prescribed orientation and periodic evaluation of progress toward strategic agenda milestones.
    • Specifies removal criteria and term structure; requires board members to reflect gender representation and balance in terms.

  • Section 4 (KRS 164.321 amendments)

    • Board governance structures for the comprehensive universities and for the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS), including term lengths and composition (faculty, nonteaching personnel, student body).
    • Residency and party-representation provisions to ensure broad geographic and political balance, with limits on residency clustering.
    • Similar orientation, removal, and governance accountability provisions as with the University of Kentucky section.

  • Section 5 (KRS 164.821 amendments)

    • Governing structure for the University of Louisville, including orientation, terms, removal provisions, and board composition (faculty, staff, student member).
    • Aligns with CPE requirements for orientation and board accountability.

  • Section 6–7 (Diversity, equity, and inclusion provisions; repeal of prior DEI-related sections)

    • References to DEI-related definitions and prohibitions are moved or repealed, with a broader emphasis on viewpoint neutrality and related standards for public postsecondary education institutions.
    • Repeals several preexisting DEI-related statutes (164.2894–164.2899 and related provisions) and related licensing diversity provisions, consolidating or altering prior DEI mandates.

Who/what would be affected

  • Public postsecondary institutions in Kentucky (state universities, including University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, regional comprehensive universities, and KCTCS).
  • The Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) as the central planning, policy, and oversight body.
  • Governing boards of public universities and the KCTCS system (boards of regents/trustees).
  • Private postsecondary institutions in Kentucky (through coordination and advisory considerations with private colleges/universities).
  • Prospective and current students (tuition policies, residency rules, and program approvals affecting access and costs).
  • State agencies and the General Assembly (through annual and biennial reporting, budgeting, and policy recommendations).

Procedural/timeline aspects

  • Annual accountability report due by December 1 of each year to the Governor and General Assembly; includes contributions to K-12 education.
  • Orientation/education program required for all new appointees and governing board members; new appointees must complete it to be eligible for a second term.
  • Capital projects approval under provisions that align with the strategic agenda; certain satellite projects have staggered authorization dates (historical note within text referencing 1998 start dates; current applicability should be confirmed in implementation).
  • Term structures for appointees and board members are long (six-year terms) with staggered expirations; specific initial term assignments are enumerated for various boards.
  • Repeal of certain DEI-related statutes implies procedural changes in reporting and governance regarding diversity policies and compliance.

If you’d like, I can tailor this into a side-by-side impact matrix (provisions by entity) or extract a concise one-page "what changes and what stays the same" sheet for policymakers or the public.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.