Georgia

HB 30 is an antisemitism redefinition bill that requires state agencies to consider the distorted IHRA definition of antisemitism, including its contemporary examples that target advocacy for Palestinian rights, when addressing allegations of discrimination or in the context of hate crimes enhancements. The definition conflates criticism of Israel and Palestinians’ lived experience and history with anti-Jewish hate, infringing on protected expression and exacerbating anti-Palestinian racism. An amended version of the bill adds antisemitic imagery to the state’s definition of terrorism and defines antisemitism according to the IHRA definition, a definition that conflates criticism of Israel and Palestinians’ lived experience and history with anti-Jewish hate, infringing on protected expression and exacerbating anti-Palestinian racism.

This bill amends the state’s 2016 anti-boycott law to exclude sole proprietorships, companies employing five or fewer employees, and contracts valued at less than $100,000 from the prohibition on state contracts with entities that engage in boycotts of Israel. The bill applies to boycotts targeting Israel, companies doing business in Israel, and companies licensed or authorized by Israel, which would encompass boycotts targeting illegal settlements. The amendments would limit the law’s application to those contracts whose subject matter is or might be affected by participation in the boycott. A similar bill was introduced in 2020 (HB 1058). These amendments would likely mean that Georgia’s anti-boycott law would not apply to individuals like journalist and filmmaker Abby Martin who is a plaintiff in 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 affirmative bill would repeal the state’s anti-boycott provisions put in place in 2016 by SB 327.

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.