Georgia

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 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 non-binding resolution condemns antisemitism and calls for rejecting and denouncing “all attempts to delegitimize and deny Israel’s right to exist.” The resolution draws from a distorted definition of antisemitism that could encompass any and all criticism of Israel, circumscribing protected political speech activities.