State Contracts

This anti-boycott bill prohibits state contracts with and state investment in companies, including sole proprietorships, that boycott Israel or territories occupied by Israel. The bill requires the state to create a blacklist of companies engaged in prohibited boycotts. The state treasurer and public retirement funds are prohibited from investing in blacklisted entities. State agencies and local governing authorities may not enter into contracts worth $1,000,000 or more with blacklisted companies. Contractors must provide written certification that they are not engaging in prohibited boycotts. 

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 bill requires vendors applying for state contracts to provide written certification that they are not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in a boycott of Israel or territories occupied by Israel. The requirement only applies to contracts of $1,000 or more entered into by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and by entities in the legislative branch.

This anti-boycott bill 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 bill defines discrimination to include boycotts of Israel or persons doing business with Israel. The companion bill (HF 400) was signed into law.

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.

This anti-boycott bill requires persons entering into state contracts to provide written certification that they are in full compliance with state anti-discrimination laws and are not and will not for the duration of the contract refuse to do business with any person on the basis of that person’s religion, sex, national original, gender identity, or sexual orientation. The bill does not apply to contracts worth less than $10,000. Boycotts for Palestinian rights based on an entity’s complicity in Israel’s violations do not discriminate on the basis of a protected class and thus fall outside the scope of the bill. However, the lawmakers who put forward these bills have stated their intent to exclude individuals and companies engaged in boycotts for Palestinian rights from state contracts. Similar bills failed to pass in 2017-2018 following pressure from state-level advocates.

This anti-boycott bill requires persons entering into state contracts to provide written certification that they are in full compliance with state anti-discrimination laws and are not and will not for the duration of the contract refuse to do business with any person on the basis of that person’s religion, sex, national original, gender identity, or sexual orientation. The bill does not apply to contracts worth less than $10,000. Boycotts for Palestinian rights based on an entity’s complicity in Israel’s violations do not discriminate on the basis of a protected class and thus fall outside the scope of the bill. However, the lawmakers who put forward these bills have stated their intent to exclude individuals and companies engaged in boycotts for Palestinian rights from state contracts. State-level organizing helped defeat these bills. Related bill: H 1685.

This anti-boycott bill requires persons entering into state contracts to provide written certification that they are in full compliance with state anti-discrimination laws and are not and will not for the duration of the contract refuse to do business with any person on the basis of that person’s religion, sex, national original, gender identity, or sexual orientation. The bill does not apply to contracts worth less than $10,000. Boycotts for Palestinian rights based on an entity’s complicity in Israel’s violations do not discriminate on the basis of a protected class and thus fall outside the scope of the bill. However, the lawmakers who put forward these bills have stated their intent to exclude individuals and companies engaged in boycotts for Palestinian rights from state contracts. State-level organizing helped defeat these bills. Related bill: S 1689.

This anti-boycott executive order prohibits executive agencies from entering into procurement contracts with business entities, including sole proprietorships, that engage in boycotts of Israel or territories occupied by Israel. Contractors must provide written certification that they are not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in such boycotts. The order does not apply to boycotts undertaken “because of the specific conduct of the person or entity,” meaning that boycotts for Palestinian rights targeting entities complicit in Israel’s violations would be excluded. Governor Hogan adopted the order following the failure of several legislative efforts targeting boycotts for Palestinian rights. A legal challenge to the executive order was dismissed after a judge found the plaintiff lacked standing.