(Just The News)—Despite a state legislative ban, Texas public universities are still implementing so-called diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies, state lawmakers have found.
Several institutions renamed or relaunched new units under a different name to continue implementing DEI policies, lawmakers found. Others are requiring DEI credits in order to be eligible to receive undergraduate degrees, according to two reports.
As a result, state law makers have frozen increased funding requests for all public higher education institutions in the state.
State Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, filed the state’s first DEI ban in higher public education institutions, SB 17, in the last legislative session. After passing the state legislature and being signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott, the law became effective Jan. 1, 2024. It prohibits higher education institutions from spending state-appropriated funds on DEI policies. It also requires governing boards to certify institutions are in compliance with the law.
Last year, higher education institutions began eliminating DEI positions and changing hiring practices in order to comply with the law, The Center Square reported.
However, complaints from constituents continued to roll in claiming some higher education institutions in Texas weren’t complying with state law. In response, Creighton and state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, launched an investigation. Creighton chairs the Senate Education Committee and Bettencourt chairs the Senate Finance Higher Education Work Group.
They sent a letter to the boards of regents at Texas public universities stating that reports they received “were not found to be satisfactory.”
Texas Education Code “directs governing boards to ensure each member institution does not ‘establish or maintain’ a DEI office – this includes renaming, relaunching or reauthorizing a DEI unit under the guise of a different name. We have found this to be the case in numerous instances, particularly at our health-related institutions,” they said.
As a result, “due to these valid findings of noncompliance, requests for increases in state funds for all public institutions of higher education this legislative session are now frozen at levels from the previous biennium,” they said.
They also instructed the regents to provide “clear and indisputable evidence that DEI programming has been fully eliminated” in their institutions in compliance with the law.
Failure to do so will result in loss of funding, they said.
They sent the letter after two major reports were issued highlighting DEI programs in higher education institutions nationwide, including in Texas.
One report published by Speech First, a free speech advocacy group, found that 67% of U.S. colleges and universities “require students to take a DEI-related class to graduate.”
Among them are 10 in Texas: Baylor University, Rice University, Southern Methodist University, Texas Tech University, the University of Texas’ Austin, El Paso and San Antonio campuses, Trinity University in San Antonio, University of Houston and the University of North Texas.
The Goldwater Institute published a report analyzing $1 billion worth of federal grants that had been allocated to promote DEI programs in K-12 schools and universities nationwide under the Biden administration. The report sought to quantify “the financial implications of these DEI mandates on students and state taxpayers.”
It identified public universities from at least 30 states that require all undergraduate students to complete a DEI course “to even be allowed to graduate with a degree from a state taxpayer-funded institution.”
In Texas, they include Texas Tech University, the University of Texas-Austin and El Paso campuses, and University of Houston-downtown. The report breaks down the cost to taxpayers in the thousands of dollars per student to comply with the DEI credit requirements, including in Texas.
In addition to raising concerns about higher education institutions, Creighton filed another bill this legislative session to ban DEI policies in K-12 public schools, The Center Square reported.
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.