Kentucky’s Senate passed HB 490, a bill that would let public college boards terminate faculty for broadly defined financial reasons, including when programs have low enrollment or when there is “misalignment of revenue and costs.” The measure cleared the chamber 30-7 and now heads back to the House for changes. Faculty groups and unions criticized the bill’s lack of definitions for “low enrollment” and cost-revenue misalignment, warning it could be used to shut down departments and chill faculty speech beyond genuine fiscal emergencies. The bill would require boards to provide 30 days’ notice and allow a response before terminations. The vote follows similar debates across states about academic freedom, faculty governance, and how institutions demonstrate financial exigency—especially as budgets tighten and boards face pressure to restructure low-enrollment offerings.