State legislatures are proposing bills to recognize and sustain minority‑serving institutions after the Education Department reduced MSI funding last fall. Lawmakers are moving to create state‑level supports, new recognition frameworks and targeted funding streams to preserve programs that serve underrepresented students. The proposals aim to replace lost federal resources and stabilize MSIs that play outsized roles in local access and workforce development. Institutional leaders should track pending state bills closely: new state obligations, reporting requirements and targeted appropriations will affect budgeting and program priorities across the MSI sector.