Anti-BDS Legislation
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USA Anti-BDS Legislation
In 2016, SB 81 was signed into law in Alabama by Governor Bentley . SB 81 prohibits a public entity in Alabama from contracting with businesses and non-profit organizations that are engaged in a discriminatory boycott (a boycott based on the race, color, religion, gender, or national origin of the targeted person or entity) or a boycott of a jurisdiction with which Alabama enjoys open trade.
Read the Bill: SB 81
On 17 March 2016 Governor Ducey signed HB 2617 into law. HB 2617 creates a blacklist of companies, organizations, and entities that boycott Israel, and will prohibit Arizona from investing in blacklisted entities. HB 2617 also prohibits Arizona from contracting with entities that boycott Israel.
Read the Bill: HB 2617
2017 On 29 March 2017, Governor Hutchinson signed SB 513 into law in Arkansas. This bill prohibits public entities from contracting with companies (defined to include organizations and associations) that boycott Israel. It also requires Arkansas to create a blacklist of companies that boycott Israel, and require public entities to divest from blacklisted companies.
Read the bill: SB 513
On 24 September 2016, Governor Brown signed AB 2844 into law. AB 2844 requires state contractors with contracts worth $100,000 or more to certify, under penalty of perjury, that they are in compliance with pre-existing California anti-discrimination laws and that any policy they have against a nation or peoples is not used to discriminate in violation of those anti-discrimination laws.
Read the Bill: AB 2844
On 18 March 2018 Governor Hickenlooper signed HB 16-1284 into law. HB 16-1284 would require the state pension fund to create a blacklist of for-profit entities that boycott Israel, and would require the pension fund to divest from blacklisted entities and prohibit it from making future investments in blacklisted entities.
Read the Bill: HB 16-1284
In 2018, Florida lawmakers introduced a new anti-BDS bill, HB 545. The bill expands Florida's 2016 anti-BDS law by prohibiting public entities from contracting with any company or non-profit that boycotts Israel. The original law excluded contracts worth less than $1 million; HB 545 deletes the $1 million threshold.
In 2016, SB 86/HB 527 was signed into law in Florida. It did the following: 1) requires Florida to create an online blacklist of companies (including sole proprietorships) and for-profit organizations that boycott Israel; 2) prohibits public entities in Florida from entering into contracts worth $1m or more with blacklisted entities or others who boycott Israel, and 3) prohibits state pension funds from investing in companies engaged in politically motivated boycotts of Israel.
Read the Bill: HB 545
On 26 April 2016, SB 327 was signed into law by GA Governor Nathan Deal. The law, will prohibit the state from contracting with individuals, companies, and other entities that boycott Israel..
On 23.7.2015, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner signed SB 1761, making Illinois the first state in the country to explicitly punish boycotts of Israel. The new law will set up a blacklist of companies that boycott Israel and require the state's pension funds to divest from those companies. The law specifies that its intent is to only punish companies that are not based in the United States
Read the Bill: SB 1761
In 2017, Illinois lawmakers introduced HB 4015, which would prohibit the state from contracting with companies unless they declare that they are not boycotting Israel.
On 23 March 2016, Governor Pence signed into law HB 1378 in Indiana. HB 1378 requires Indiana to create a blacklist of organizations, businesses, and other entities that engage in BDS activities, and will require Indiana's public pension funds to divest from blacklisted companies.
On 23 February 2016 HF 2331 was signed into law by Governor Branstad. This will require Iowa to create a blacklist of "businesses and business entities that are publicly traded and not based in the United States," and would prohibit Iowa from contracting with or investing in blacklisted entities.
Read the Bill: HF 2331
On 16 June 2017, HB 2409 was signed into law. This law will prohibit the state from contracting with or procuring from individuals and companies (defined to include organizations and associations that exist "for profitmaking purposes or to otherwise secure economic advantage") unless they certify that they are not boycotting Israel.
On 15 November 2018 EO 2018-905 was signed into law. This law will prohibit state contracts with companies that participate in boycott, divestment, and sanction (BDS) practices against Israel . The executive order prohibits Kentucky executive branch agencies from entering into contracts governed by KRS Chapter 45A with entities that engage in discriminatory practices restricting free trade or foster restrictive trade practices against Israel.
Read the Executive Order EO 2018-905
On 22 May 2018 Governor John Bel Edwards signed an executive order no 18-15 that prohibits the state from contracting with any company that participates in a boycott of Israel "or Israeli-controlled territories." The order specifically names the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel.
READ THE EXECUTIVE ORDER NO 18-15
On 23 October 2017 Maryland Governor Larry Hogan signed an anti-BDS Executive Order, prohibiting executive agencies in Maryland from entering into procurement contracts with companies unless they certify in writing that they are not engaged in a boycott of Israel.
Read Executive Order no 18
On 5 Jan 2017, two anti-boycott bills were signed into law by Gov. Snyder. HB 5821 prohibits Michigan from contracts for procurement of supplies, services, or information technology with individuals and entities engaged in discriminatory boycotts of Israel.
Read the bill HB 5821
HB 5822 prohibits Michigan from contracting for construction and repairs to state property with individuals and entities engaged in discriminatory boycotts of Israel.
On 3 May 2017, Governor Mark Dayton signed HF 400/SF 247 into law. This bill prohibits state agencies and the state legislature from contracting with vendors unless the vendor certifies that they are not discriminating against Israel or persons/entities doing business in Israel. "Discrimination" is defined to include "refusals to deal, terminating business activities, or other actions that are intended to limit commercial relations with Israel, or persons doing business with Israel, when such actions are taken in a manner that in any way discriminates on the basis of nationality or national origin and is not based on a valid business reason."
Read the bill HF400
On 2 June 2017, Governor Sandoval signed SB 26 into law in Nevada. The new law will require the state to develop a blacklist of for-profit entities that boycott Israel, and it will prohibit the state from contracting with or investing in for-profit entities that boycott Israel.
On 16 August 2016 Governor Christie signed A925/ S1923 into law in New Jersey. A925/S1923 requires New Jersey's public pension funds to divest from companies that boycott Israel or Israeli businesses.
Read the Bill: A925/ S1923
On 5 June 2016, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed an Executive Order No. 157 directing State agencies and authorities to divest public funds supporting BDS campaigns against Israel.
Read EO 157
On 27 July 2017, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper signed HB 161 into law. HB161 proposes a blacklist of companies (defined to include organizations) that boycott Israel and "Israeli-controlled territories." The bill prohibits the state from investing in or contracting with blacklisted companies.
Read the Bill: HB161
HB 476 was signed into law by Gov. Kasich on 16 December 2016. The law prohibits Ohio from contracting with for-profit entities for supplies, equipment, or services, unless the contract declares that the company does not engage in discriminatory boycotts of Israel.
On 4 November 2016, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed HB 2107 into law. HB 2107 prohibits the state from contracting with companies, organizations, and other entities for supplies, services, or construction unless the company certifies that it is not engaged in a boycott based on race, religion, gender, national affiliation, or national origin, and that it will not engage in such a boycott for the duration of the contract.
On 24 February 2016, H7736 was signed into law by Governor Raimondo in Rhode Island. H7736 prohibits public entities in Rhode Island from contracting with companies engaged in boycotts based on "race, color, religion, gender, or nationality of the targeted person, firm, entity or public entity of a foreign state."
Read the Bill: H7736
On 12 April 2018, the South Carolina Senate passed bill H.3643. H.3643 would require public colleges and universities in the state to use the State Department definition of anti-Semitism when "reviewing, investigating, or deciding whether there has been a violation of university policy prohibiting discriminatory practices on the basis of religion.
On 2 May 2017, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed H.B.89/S.B. 29 into law. This law will require the state to develop a blacklist of for-profit entities that boycott Israel. The law will also prohibit the state from contracting with or investing in those entities.
Read the Bill: H.B. 89
On 27 October 2017, Governor Scott Walker signed an executive order 261 prohibiting state agencies from contracting with companies that boycott Israel.
Read Executive Order 261
A website set up by Palestine Legal, a pro-Palestinian group, provides a wealth of information about the anti-BDS legislation in the various US states, and has a very effective interactive map. This site is recommended for its information regarding how the BDS activists are trying to overturn the anti-BDS legislation
Right To Boycott
Europe - Anti BDS Legislation
On 17 May 2019 the German Bundestag ruled that the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement is antisemitic, and called on governmental bodies not to finance or support any organizations that support BDS or question Israel's right to exist. Resolution 19/10191 of the German Parliament: "Der BDS-Bewegung entschlossen entgegentreten – Antisemitismus bekämpfen" is here
Read German legislation
On 10 August 2017 the city of Frankfurt, Germany, passed a bill outlawing municipal funding for and the use of public spaces for activities that aim to boycott Israel. Details of Frankfurt's anti-BDS legislation is here: Frankfurt - English Frankfurt - German
Read Frankfurt legislation
Munich passed a bill on 13 December 2017 to ban boycotts of Israel, becoming the first city in Germany to outlaw public funds and space for the BDS campaign Details of Frankfurt's anti-BDS legislation is here: Frankfurt - English Frankfurt - German
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