Illinois

This anti-boycott law requires the creation of a state-run blacklist of foreign companies that boycott Israel and “territories controlled by Israel,” and compels the state’s pension fund to divest from and prohibit investment in those companies. Related bills: HB 4011. 

This antisemitism redefinition bill amends provisions of the state’s Human Rights Act applicable to public schools and universities to adopt a distorted definition of antisemitism that could encompass any and all criticism of Israel, circumscribing protected political speech activities. The bill makes it a civil rights violation for schools to fail to treat antisemitic discrimination in the same way as race discrimination and defines antisemitism to include criticism of Israel, 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, or focusing peace or human rights investigations only on the State of Israel.” An identical bill (HB 4049) failed to pass in the previous session.

This antisemitism redefinition bill amends provisions of the state’s Human Rights Act applicable to public schools and universities to adopt a distorted definition of antisemitism that could encompass any and all criticism of Israel, circumscribing protected political speech activities. The bill makes it a civil rights violation for schools to fail to treat antisemitic discrimination in the same way as race discrimination, and defines antisemitism to include criticism of Israel, 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, or focusing peace or human rights investigations only on the State of Israel.”

This anti-boycott bill prohibits state agencies from entering into or renewing contracts with entities that boycott Israel or other jurisdictions with which Illinois is not prohibited from doing business. Contractors must provide a written certification that they do not and will not engage in boycotts for the duration of the contract. 

This anti-boycott bill requires the creation of a state-run blacklist of foreign companies that boycott Israel and “territories controlled by Israel,” and compels the state’s pension fund to divest from and prohibit investment in those companies. Its companion bill (SB 1761) was passed into law in 2015.

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 non-binding resolution encourages the University of Illinois Board of Trustees to use the IHRA definition of antisemitism as a basis for recommending policies and actions to address antisemitism on campus. The distorted IHRA definition has been widely criticized for conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism, resulting in the silencing of advocates for Palestinian rights. The resolution asks the Board to report to the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois General Assembly every 180 days on steps being taken to implement such policies, which could include mandating campus training or enforcing a student code of conduct. Relying on the IHRA definition for such policies could turn criticism of Israel into a violation of the student code of conduct.

This senate joint resolution condemns academic boycotts of Israeli institutions, stating they unfairly single out Israel and raise questions of antisemitism. The resolution calls on university presidents to condemn academic boycotts as a threat to academic freedom.

Citing the 2015 Illinois anti-boycott law (SB 1761), this non-binding resolution from the Cook County Board of Commissioners urges the County Employees’ and Officers’ Annuity and Benefit Fund of Cook County and the Forest Preserve District Employees’ Annuity and Benefit Fund of Cook County to divest from foreign companies that engage in boycotts for Palestinian rights. 

Citing the 2015 Illinois anti-boycott law (SB 1761), this non-binding city council resolution urges the Municipal Employees’ Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago to divest from foreign companies that engage in boycotts of Israel. The resolution falsely links boycotts for Palestinian rights with growing antisemitism.