Relating to prohibiting public institutions of higher education from offering programs or courses in LGBTQ or DEI studies.

HB 171 prohibits Texas public universities from offering degree programs, minors, or courses focused on LGBTQ studies or diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The bill requires all academic programs to align with a definition of biological sex as "male" or "female" at conception, banning any content promoting "differential treatment" based on race, color, or ethnicity. It mandates annual state audits to ensure compliance, with non-compliant institutions facing withheld state funding and potential penalties for faculty violating the policy. This bill directly affects all 15 public universities in Texas, restricting curricular content and requiring adherence to specific biological sex definitions in academic programs.