SB 1252 is an antisemitism redefinition bill that adopts the distorted IHRA definition of antisemitism, including its contemporary examples that target advocacy for Palestinian rights, into state law addressing discrimination as well as other areas of law. Related bill: HB 1606.
HB 2673 is an antisemitism redefinition bill that requires state agencies and public educational institutions to consider the distorted IHRA definition of antisemitism in assessing discrimination allegations in Tennessee’s public schools and universities. The bill specifically references the IHRA definition’s “contemporary examples of antisemitism” which include the following as examples of antisemitism related to Israel: “[a]pplying a double standards” to Israel,” or “[d]enying the Jewish people the right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.” The definition is so broad and vague that it could encompass nearly any criticism of Israel, circumscribing political speech in support of Palestinian rights, potentially in violation of the First Amendment.
S 2434 is an antisemitism redefinition bill that directs the state to consider the distorted IHRA definition of antisemitism, including its contemporary examples related to Israel, for the purpose of determining whether a discriminatory act had antisemitic intent. The legislative statement accompanying the text notes that the bill “establishes a State definition of anti-Semitism.” Similar bills (S 4001/H 5755 ) were defeated after civil rights groups raised constitutional concerns. Related bill: A 3882.
A 3882 is an antisemitism redefinition bill that directs the state to consider the distorted IHRA definition of antisemitism, including its contemporary examples related to Israel, for the purpose of determining whether a discriminatory act had antisemitic intent. The legislative statement accompanying the text notes that the bill “establishes a State definition of anti-Semitism.” Similar bills (S 4001/H 5755 ) were defeated after civil rights groups raised constitutional concerns. Related bill: S 2434.
This antisemitism redefinition bill amends Iowa’s Civil Rights Act to adopt a distorted definition of antisemitism that could encompass any and all criticism of Israel, circumscribing protected political speech activities. The bill requires the consideration of the problematic IHRA definition, including the contemporary examples, such as “Applying a double standard to the State of Israel by requiring behavior of the State of Israel that is not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation,” when investigating discrimination complaints. As a result, political speech supportive of Palestinian rights could be deemed unlawful discrimination in the workplace, in public accommodations, and in educational institutions in Iowa. The bill was withdrawn after a companion bill (HF 2220) was passed.
This antisemitism redefinition bill amends Iowa’s Civil Rights Act to adopt a distorted definition of antisemitism that could encompass any and all criticism of Israel, circumscribing protected political speech activities. The bill requires the consideration of the problematic IHRA definition, including the contemporary examples, such as “Applying a double standard to the State of Israel by requiring behavior of the State of Israel that is not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation,” when investigating discrimination complaints. As a result, political speech supportive of Palestinian rights could be deemed unlawful discrimination in the workplace, in public accommodations, and in educational institutions in Iowa. The governor signed the bill in March 2022, and it went into effect in July 2022. Related bill: SF 2183.
This antisemitism redefinition bill amends provisions of the state’s education law to adopt a distorted definition of antisemitism that could encompass any and all criticism of Israel, circumscribing protected political speech activities. The bill requires public schools, universities, and community colleges to treat antisemitic discrimination in the same way as race discrimination, but defines antisemitism to include criticism of Israel, including: “Applying a double standard to the State of Israel by requiring behavior of the State of Israel that is not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation, or focusing peace or human rights investigations only on the State of Israel.”
Originally a bill about the right to a jury trial, this antisemitism redefinition bill requires the use of a distorted definition of antisemitism in hate crimes reporting and sentencing. Criticism of Israel and advocacy for Palestinian rights could be used as evidence of a hate crime or result in more severe sentences.
The bill amends Arizona law to include antisemitism as one of the categories of discrimination for which the state must collect bias crime statistics, but adopts the IHRA definition of antisemitism, including its problematic contemporary examples, which include “[a]pplying double standards [to Israel] by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation” and “claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.” The bill requires courts to consider criticism of Israel that falls within the IHRA definition as an aggravating factor for sentencing in criminal convictions.
This bill is nearly identical to previous versions, HB 2683 and SB 1143, which failed to pass in 2020 after civil rights groups and advocates raised concerns over how the definition could be used to chill protected speech. The governor signed HB 2675 in April 2022, and it went into effect in September 2022. Related bills: SB 1713.
This antisemitism redefinition bill requires the use of a distorted definition of antisemitism in hate crimes reporting and sentencing. Criticism of Israel and advocacy for Palestinian rights could be used as evidence of a hate crime or result in more severe sentences.
The bill amends Arizona law to include antisemitism as one of the categories of discrimination for which the state must collect bias crime statistics, but adopts the IHRA definition of antisemitism, including its problematic contemporary examples, which include “[a]pplying double standards [to Israel] by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation” and “claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.” The bill requires courts to consider criticism of Israel that falls within the IHRA definition as an aggravating factor for sentencing in criminal convictions.
This bill is nearly identical to previous versions, HB 2683 and SB 1143, which were defeated in 2020. Civil rights groups and advocates raised concerns over how the definition could be used to chill protected speech, and the bill failed to pass. A related bill (HB 2675) passed in April 2022.
This antisemitism redefinition amendment to the state budget bill adopts the problematic IHRA definition of antisemitism, which has been widely criticized for encompassing nearly all criticism of Israel and circumscribing protected political speech activities. State-level advocates mobilized to ensure that the amendment did not pass out of committee.
