In Effect

H4635 is a non-binding resolution that condemns the American Studies Association’s 2013 resolution endorsing the boycott of Israeli academic institutions complicit in Israel’s violations of international law. The resolution notably and falsely labels the ASA’s boycott “an intolerable, anti-Semitic, base form of bigotry and hatred” and calls on all of South Carolina’s colleges and universities not to participate in academic boycotts. 

This anti-boycott bill prohibits state contracts with businesses engaged in discriminatory boycotts based on “race, color, religion, gender, or nationality of the targeted person, firm, entity or public entity of a foreign state.” 

This anti-boycott bill prohibits state contracts with businesses unless they provide a written certification that they are not and will not engage in a boycott of persons or entities based in or doing business with or agencies of “a jurisdiction with whom the state can enjoy open trade.” The bill provides exceptions for bids at least 20% less than other bids and excludes contracts worth less than $10,000. Because H7736 defines boycotts as those “based on race, color, religion, gender, or nationality” of the targeted entity, boycotts for justice fall outside its scope. 

SR 136 is a non-binding resolution condemning boycotts for Palestinian rights and academic boycotts, in particular. The resolution falsely claims that boycotts for Palestinian rights have contributed to rising antisemitism and have resulted in intimidation of Jewish students on college campuses. The resolution urges the state attorney general to explore whether BDS efforts violate state laws, including those related to antitrust, hate crimes, business torts, and other matters. Related Legislation: HR 370.

This anti-boycott bill prohibits state contracts with companies, including sole proprietorships, that boycott Israel. While the preambular language makes clear that the bill targets boycotts for Palestinian rights, the operative language is more general, prohibiting boycotts of “a person or an entity based in or doing business with a jurisdiction which the Commonwealth is not prohibited by Congressional statute from engaging in trade or commerce.” The bill requires contractors to provide a written certification that they are not currently engaged in such discriminatory boycotts and will not engage in such boycotts for the duration of the contract. To register as a vendor with the state, companies must provide a certification form indicating that they are eligible to contract with the state under the terms of this bill. The penalty for false certification is the greater of $250,000 or twice the amount of the contract. The bill provides an exception for contracts below an annually adjusted “small purchase” threshold (around $20,000 in 2020). The bill defines boycotts as those “based on race, color, religion, gender or national affiliation or origin of the targeted person or entity.” Related Legislation: HB 1986.

HR 370 is a non-binding resolution condemning boycotts for Palestinian rights and academic boycotts, in particular. The resolution falsely claims that boycotts for Palestinian rights have contributed to rising antisemitism and have resulted in intimidation of Jewish students on college campuses. Related Legislation: SR 136.

HR 627 is a non-binding resolution that condemns the American Studies Association’s 2013 resolution endorsing the boycott of Israeli academic institutions complicit in Israel’s violations of international law. The resolution notably and falsely labels the ASA’s boycott “an intolerable, anti-Semitic, base form of bigotry and hatred” and calls on all of Pennsylvania’s colleges and universities not to participate in academic boycotts. Related Legislation: SR 279.

This anti-boycott law prohibits state investment in companies that engage in boycotts of Israel or territories occupied by Israel. The law calls for the creation of a blacklist of companies engaged in prohibited boycotts and requires the state treasurer and public retirement funds to divest from blacklisted companies. Similar bills were introduced and defeated in 2017 and 2018. 

This anti-boycott law (MN Statutes 3.226 and 16C.053) prohibits the state legislature and state agencies from contracting with vendors that discriminate against Israel or persons or entities doing business in Israel. Vendors are required to provide written certification of their compliance for contracts valued at $1,000 or more. The law was subsequently amended to raise the threshold to $50,000 or more. The law defines discrimination 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.” Although the law as written should not reach boycotts for justice, HF 400 is clearly intended to target boycotts for Palestinian rights, in particular. The original version of the bill prohibited contracts with vendors engaged in boycotts of Israel or territories occupied by Israel. The enacted version replaced “boycott” with “discrimination” and limited the scope to Israel. Companion bill: SF 247.

This anti-boycott law prohibits state contracts for supplies, services, or information technology unless the contract includes a written certification that the person does not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in a boycott of a person based in or doing business with a strategic partner. The law incorporates the definition of “strategic partner” from federal law, specifically 22 USC 8601 to 8606, which focus solely on Israel. Related bill: HB 5822.

This anti-boycott law prohibits state contracts for the construction, alteration, or repair of a state building or other state property unless the contract includes a written certification that the person does not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in a boycott of a person based in or doing business with a strategic partner. The law incorporates the definition of “strategic partner” from federal law, specifically 22 USC 8601 to 8606, which focus solely on Israel. Related bill: HB 5821.