Anti-boycott

This anti-boycott defunding bill prohibits the use of state funds by colleges and universities to fund or provide funds for membership in or travel to meetings of academic entities that engage in boycotts of countries that host New York state colleges, a short list that includes Israel. Schools that violate the prohibition are not eligible to receive state funds during the academic year in which the violation occurred. This bill is intended to dissuade students, professors, and faculty from participating in or supporting the academic boycott of Israel. Similar bills have failed to pass in previous sessions.

HB 608 is an anti-boycott investment prohibition bill that orders the creation of a blacklist of companies that boycott Israel or illegal Israeli settlements. The bill requires Montana’s board of investments to divest from all holdings of and prohibits the state from investing in blacklisted companies. The bill excludes actions “taken pursuant to a boycott against a public entity of Israel if the boycott is applied in a nondiscriminatory manner,” which should exclude boycotts for justice. However, the preambular text makes clear that it is state policy to oppose BDS.

HR 7900 is the National Defense Authorization Act for 2023. Amendment 367 of US HR 7900 requires the U.S. Department of Defense to issue a report confirming that none of their contractors participate in or support any effort “based on a belief that Israel is oppressing Palestinians” that promotes boycotts for justice.

HR 7900 is the National Defense Authorization Act for 2023. Amendment 731 establishes that it is the policy of the U.S. to seek to abolish the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, an entity established to investigate ​​all alleged violations of international law surrounding the Unity Intifada.

This anti-boycott bill prohibits state contracts with a company for goods or services unless the contract includes a written certification that the company does not, and for the duration of the contract will not, engage in boycott activity against Israel or illegal Israeli settlements. This bill exempts contracts with a value of less than one hundred thousand dollars or with companies with fewer than ten full-time employees. Additionally, this bill prohibits public entities from adopting any procurement, investment, or other policies that have the effect of “allowing, inducing, or requiring a person or company” to boycott Israel or illegal settlements, a provision that targets divestment or other BDS campaigns at public universities.

This anti-boycott bill prohibits any public entity from entering into a contract with a company unless the contract includes a written certification that the company is not engaged in, and agrees for the duration of the contract not to engage in, a boycott of Israel or illegal Israeli settlements. The bill exempts contracts with a value of less than one hundred thousand dollars or with companies with less than 10 employees. The version that passed out of the House removed the monetary threshold. The bill also prohibits the state investment board from adopting any investment policy that would “have the effect of requiring or inducing any person to boycott Israel.” 

This anti-boycott bill prohibits state contracts with companies, including non-profits, that boycott Israel or entities “authorized, licensed, or organized to do business by the State of Israel,” which would encompass illegal Israeli settlements. Contractors must provide a written certification that they are not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in such boycotts. The bill excludes contracts whose total value is less than $100,000 and contractors that have fewer than 10 employees.

This anti-boycott bill prohibits any portion of New Hampshire’s state retirement and pension funds from being used to invest in any company involved in a boycott of Israel. 

This anti-boycott bill prohibits any public body from contracting with entities that boycott Israel or illegal Israeli settlements. Contractors are required to certify in writing that they will not boycott Israel for the duration of the contract. These written certifications are to be made publicly available. The bill applies to contracts in excess of $100,000 with any contractor having more than 10 employees. Contractors that boycott in violation of these requirements will be subject to civil penalties an amount equal to three times the contract. Additionally, this bill bars institutions of higher education from boycotting Israel and requires the board of each public institution of higher education to certify in writing that they will not boycott Israel or illegal Israeli settlements. Related bill: HB 1898.

HB 1898 is an anti-boycott bill that prohibits public bodies in Virginia from contracting with entities that engage in boycott activity against Israel or entities “authorized by, licensed by, or organized under the laws of the State of Israel,” which encompass illegal Israeli settlements. This bill requires potential contractors to certify that they will not boycott Israel during the performance of the contract and applies to contracts worth over $100,000 and to contractors with more than 10 employees. The contractor is also required to impose the written certification on subcontracts or purchases over $10,000. Earlier versions of the bill included a civil penalty of three times the amount of the contract for violations of these requirements. It also prohibited public institutions of higher education in Virginia from boycotting Israel and imposed written certification requirements. Related bills: SB 1375.