OMAHA, Nebraska, May 3 (Reuters) - Berkshire Hathaway ( BRK/A )

shareholders on Saturday rejected a resolution

requiring the company to report on risks from its subsidiaries'

race-based initiatives, one of seven proposals tied to

diversity, artificial intelligence and other issues that were

voted down.

Shareholders also voted against a resolution that Berkshire

report on how its business practices affect employees based on

race, color, religion, sex, national origin and political views.

Also voted down were proposals requiring Berkshire's board

of directors to create a committee to oversee diversity and

inclusion, having independent directors oversee AI-related

risks, and requiring a report on "voluntary" environmental

activities that exceed federal and state requirements.

The votes were announced after Buffett unexpectedly

announced he planned to step down as Berkshire chief executive

at the end of the year.

He will be replaced by Vice Chairman Greg Abel, who presided

over the reading of the shareholder proposals.

Buffett, who controls about 30% of Berkshire's voting power,

and the other Berkshire directors opposed all seven proposals,

finding them unnecessary and in some instances inconsistent with

the company's decentralized culture.

The board also said Berkshire's operating companies set

their own policies concerning race and other employment factors,

and that Berkshire's overall approach was "simple - follow the

law and do the right thing."

Businesses across corporate America have curbed public

support or initiatives for diversity, equity and inclusion in

the workplace, as conservatives including U.S. President Donald

Trump push to curb DEI in the private sector and society, as

well as in the federal government.

Berkshire has discussed generally in its annual reports the

hiring practices of its operating businesses. In its latest

report in February, it removed a reference to "diversity and

inclusion in the workforce" as a hiring goal.

At Saturday's meeting, Berkshire shareholders also reelected

all directors who were eligible, including Buffett and Abel.