Kansas regulators adopted statewide definitions to comply with a new law banning public colleges from requiring “DEI-CRT” content in required courses. The policy defines diversity, equity and inclusion content as instruction that intentionally promotes preferential treatment based on protected characteristics and narrows critical race theory to material that “promotes” systemic racism rather than presenting it as a scholarly topic. University of Kansas Chancellor Douglas Girod supported the definition’s broad acceptance but criticized the use of “promotes,” warning that ambiguity creates teaching risk for faculty. The regents’ work also explicitly excluded general discussions of race, racism and civil rights history. In Iowa, the Board of Regents approved a recurring review process for undergraduate general education courses at its three public universities, starting in 2026–27. The reviews target “substantial DEI or critical race theory content,” without directly cutting courses or adding requirements. Overall, these board actions show how legislatures are pushing the compliance burden onto universities through definitional frameworks that can affect hiring confidence, curriculum planning and student recruitment.