Defeated

This antisemitism redefinition bill amends the state’s anti-discrimination law applying to public schools and universities. The bill adopts a distorted definition of antisemitism that could encompass virtually all criticism of Israel, circumscribing protected political speech activities. After civil rights groups raised constitutional concerns about this bill and companion bill A5755, legislators introduced A5939/S4169, which removed several Israel-related examples from the definition.

This anti-boycott bill requires state pension funds to withdraw investments from companies that boycott Israel, entities doing business with Israel, or entities in Israel or territories it occupies. The bill requires the state to create a blacklist of companies that boycott Israel. Though the bill failed, its companion bill S1923 was enacted in 2016.

This anti-boycott bill prohibits state investment in companies that boycott goods, products or businesses of Israel. The bill requires the state to create a blacklist of all investments that violate this prohibition. The bill makes an exception for companies providing humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people. Related bill: S3044.

This antisemitism redefinition bill adopts a definition of antisemitism for use in enforcing existing anti-discrimination laws and regulations. Though the bill does not focus on criticism of Israel, the bill declares that the IHRA definition—a distorted definition of antisemitism that could encompass virtually all criticism of Israel—includes examples of “anti-Israel acts” that cross the line into antisemitism. This statement bolsters ongoing efforts to use the IHRA definition to suppress protected speech. The bill was introduced alongside companion bill S4169.

This antisemitism redefinition bill amends the state’s anti-discrimination law applying to public schools and universities. The bill adopts a distorted definition of antisemitism that could encompass virtually all criticism of Israel, circumscribing protected political speech activities. After civil rights groups raised constitutional concerns about this bill and companion bill S4001, legislators introduced A5939/S4169, which removed several Israel-related examples from the definition.

This anti-boycott bill defunds state institutions of higher education that directly or indirectly fund academic entities or associations that boycott, condemn, or otherwise oppose businesses, institutions, academic personnel, public officials, or actions of the state of Israel.

This anti-boycott bill prohibits state investment in companies that boycott goods, products or businesses of Israel. The bill requires the state to create a blacklist of all investments that violate this prohibition. The bill makes an exception for companies providing humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people. Related bill: A4665.

This anti-boycott bill calls for the creation of a blacklist of companies that participate in a boycott of Israel or persons or entities doing business in Israel or “territories controlled by Israel,” language that reaches boycotts of Israel’s illegal settlements. It prohibits state investment in and requires the state board of investments to divest from blacklisted entities. The bill also prohibits state contracts with companies unless they provide a written certification that they are not and will not engage in boycotts of Israel for the duration of the contract. Because HB 501 only applies to boycotts undertaken on a discriminatory basis, boycotts for Palestinian rights fall outside its scope. Due to the efforts of members of Helena Service for Peace and Justice, the Montana Coalition for Palestine, and others, HB 501 was defeated.

This anti-boycott bill calls for the creation of a blacklist of companies that participate in a boycott of Israel or persons or entities doing business in Israel or “territories controlled by Israel,” language that reaches boycotts of Israel’s illegal settlements. It prohibits state investment in and requires the state board of investments to divest from blacklisted entities. Because HB 493 only applies to boycotts undertaken on a discriminatory basis, boycotts for Palestinian rights fall outside its scope.

This resolution affirms the constitutional rights of all people to engage in boycott activity against an entity when they have conscientious concerns with the entity’s policies or actions. It states that Missouri shall not punish individuals by denying them a state contract for exercising their constitutional right to boycott. The resolution states that “criticism of a nation by individuals, including as a nonviolent citizens’ boycott, does not constitute bigotry against the citizens of that nation.”