Anti-boycott

This anti-boycott defunding bill amends the Board of Higher Education Act to prohibit public universities from using state funds to subsidize academic activities (including membership, travel, lodging for meetings) related to entities that endorse or engage in boycotts of member states of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. Universities in violation of the prohibition are not eligible for state aid during the same academic year. The bill was introduced following the American Studies Association’s endorsement of a boycott of Israeli academic institutions.

This anti-boycott bill prohibits public entities from entering into a contract with a company, including non-profits, unless that company signs a written certification that they are not currently, and will not for the duration of the contract, engage in boycotts of the state of Israel, or territories under its control. This prohibition does not include contracts less than $100,000 or with companies that have fewer than 10 employees. 

This anti-boycott bill requires the treasurer to create a blacklist of companies, including sole proprietorships, that engage in boycotts for Palestinian rights. This bill prohibits state investments, requiring the treasurer to sell, redeem, divest, or withdraw all direct holdings in blacklisted companies. This bill also requires state contracts to include a written certification that the contractor is not currently engaged, and for the duration of the agreement will not engage, in a boycott of Israel. 

This amends the state’s 2016 anti-boycott law to exclude individuals (though sole proprietors are still included in the definition of companies) and contracts less than $100,000 from the prohibition on state contracts with entities that engage in boycotts of Israel or territories controlled by Israel.

The amendments were introduced weeks after journalist and filmmaker Abby Martin filed a lawsuit against the University System of Georgia for cancelling her speaking engagement following her refusal to sign a written certification not to boycott Israel.

This anti-boycott law prohibits state contracts with entities, including sole proprietorships, that boycott Israel or territories controlled by Israel. Contractors must provide a written certification that they are not and will not engage in boycotts for the duration of the contract. It excludes contracts worth less than $1,000.

In February 2020, journalist and filmmaker Abby Martin filed a lawsuit against the University System of Georgia for cancelling her speaking engagement following her refusal to sign the written certification included in her contract that she would not boycott Israel. 

This anti-boycott bill prohibits state contracts with a company, including a non-profit, unless that company signs a written certification that it is not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in a boycott of the state of Israel or “territories under its control,” language that would reach boycotts of Israel’s illegal settlements. This prohibition does not include contracts less than $100,000 or with companies that have fewer than 10 employees. Related Bills: SB 739 (signed into law), SB 544, SB 594, HB 1738, HB 2179.

This anti-boycott bill prohibits state investment in and state contracts with individual vendors and companies participating in a boycott of Israel or territories occupied by Israel. The bill requires the creation of a blacklist of entities engaged in prohibited boycotts. Contractors must provide written certification that they are not on the blacklist and are not engaging in prohibited boycotts. State retirement funds are prohibited from investing in blacklisted entities. Civil rights groups and state-level advocates, including the Freedom to Boycott in Maryland coalition, helped defeat the bill. Related bill: HB 949.

This anti-boycott bill requires state contracts to include a written certification that the contractor is not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in a boycott of Israel or companies doing business in Israel. The law applies to companies, including non-profits, with 10 or more employees and contracts of $100,000 or more. The provisions targeting boycotts for Palestinian rights were added as a committee substitute. Related Bills: SB 739 (signed into law), HB 2179, SB 544, HB 1344, HB 1738.

This anti-boycott bill requires state contracts to include a written certification that the contractor is not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in a boycott of Israel or companies doing business in Israel. The law applies to companies, including non-profits, with 10 or more employees and contracts of $100,000 or more. The initial version of the bill focused on the provision of services for homeless persons; the provisions targeting boycotts for Palestinian rights were added as a committee substitute. Related Bills: SB 739 (signed into law), HB 2179, SB 594, HB 1344, HB 1738.

This anti-boycott bill prohibits state contracts with a company, including a non-profit, unless that company signs a written certification that it is not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in a boycott of the state of Israel or “territories under its control,” language that would reach boycotts of Israel’s illegal settlements. This prohibition does not apply to contracts less than $100,000 or with companies that have fewer than 10 employees. Related Bills: SB 739 (signed into law), SB 544, SB 594, HB 1344, HB 2179.