FRANKFORT, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — Student leaders from universities across the state showed up to the Capitol this morning alongside Governor Andy Beshear and state legislators to show their support for post-secondary education. “As the board of student body presidents, we spent the last yea r focusing on issues that matter most to students across Kentucky: mental health, affordability and support for first-generation and non-traditional students.,” Student Body President of the University of Louisville Allie Rose Phillips. All issues which have been a discussion in our state capitol at some point. The youngest representative in Kentucky’s legislature shared how student advocates have inspired and impacted bills during the 2025 session. “Probably one of my favorite bills of the session was Senate Bill 77, Representative JT Payne said. “Senate Bill 77 allows the council of post-secondary education to be the agency that approves or denies doctoral programs instead of the legislature.” A bill that did not receive positive feedback at the rally was House Bill 4. This bill is aimed at eliminating DEI programs at public universities. Beshear vetoed the bill following long-standing conversations surrounding DEI coming from both the state and the nation. “It also means we push back against the federal government when they try to illegally cut NIH funding or punish universities for political views,” Beshear said. He added that there’s a big demographic shift happening in our country right now. He says there’s more chances for leadership opportunities now that baby boomers have started retiring. Representative Joshua Watkins says that in order to achieve these positions, post-secondary education is becoming increasingly important. “Today we gather to affirm our commitment to making higher education accessible and affordable for every single student,” Watkins said. “We’re united in the belief that education is the great equalizer.”   Categories: Featured, Local News, News Tags: Bills, DEI, Governor Beshear, higher education rally, legislature ...read more read less