Anti-Diversity Legislation, State Dependence, and Anticipatory Compliance in Faculty Hiring at Public Colleges and Universities

State-level anti-diversity bills, which have been introduced in 33 states, close off avenues through which many underrepresented scholars have been hired. These bills signal a shift in the local political climate, pressuring public colleges and universities to realign their priorities in anticipation of future legal changes. Using federal data on new postsecondary hires, we find that the introduction of state anti-diversity legislation was followed by an increase in the share of White men and a substantial decline in the share of faculty hires from marginalized groups, even before bills were signed into law. This shift was most pronounced at schools highly dependent on state funding. Our findings suggest that “anticipatory compliance” with political intervention varies by organizational revenue streams, raising concerns for the future of higher education organizations largely dependent on public grants and appropriations.