State policymakers and governing boards are moving to dictate classroom materials and faculty workload. Florida’s new regulations require instructors to finalize reading lists more than 45 days before classes start, a change critics say will hollow out adaptive teaching and harm pedagogy. Faculty and pedagogical experts warn fixed preterm reading lists undercut responsive instruction and impede topical updates. In Kansas, the Board of Regents has tightened post‑tenure review procedures and set teaching‑load expectations that faculty say undermine academic autonomy. Regents leaders defend the measures as necessary to satisfy legislatures pushing for accountability. Together, these state actions illustrate growing political influence over curricular decisions and tenure protections on public campuses.