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Overview

Iowa has an anti-boycott law (HF 2331) in effect that requires state entities to create a blacklist of foreign companies that boycott Israel or territories it occupies and that prohibits both state investments in and state contracts with such companies for contracts of $1,000 or more. In 2022, Iowa’s anti-boycott law was amended to expand the definition of companies subject to the law. In 2022, Iowa lawmakers also passed an antisemitism redefinition bill  (HF 2220) requiring the state to consider a distorted definition of antisemitism that encompasses almost any criticism of Israel in investigating discrimination allegations. The law went into effect in July 2022.

State Legislation

Legislation
HF 2220 (2022)
Status
In Effect
In Effect Since
July 2022
Type(s)
Antisemitism Redefinition
Full Text
Read HF 2220 (2022) 

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

Legislation
HF 2373 (2022)
Status
In Effect
In Effect Since
July 2022
Type(s)
Anti-boycott, State Contracts, State Investments
Full Text
Read HF 2373 (2022) 

This bill, formerly HSB 639, amends Iowa’s 2016 anti-boycott law (HF 2331), and expands the definition of companies subject to the law  to include a “wholly owned subsidiary, majority-owned subsidiary, parent company, or affiliate of such business or business.”

Iowa’s anti-boycott law requires state entities to create a blacklist of entities that boycott Israel and territories it occupies. The law prohibits state entities from investing in or contracting with blacklisted entities for contracts of $1,000 or more.  The amendments in HF 2373 are specifically aimed at Ben & Jerry’s and in response to the ice cream company’s 2021 announcement that it would stop doing business in illegal Israeli settlements. Ben and Jerry’s and its London-based parent company, Unilever, have come under attack from Israel and its allies who have called for states to use anti-boycott laws to divest from Unilever. The bill went into effect in July 2022. Related bill: SF 2265.

Legislation
HF 2331
Status
In Effect
In Effect Since
July 2016
Type(s)
Anti-boycott, State Contracts, State Investments
Full Text
Read HF 2331 

This anti-boycott law requires state entities to create a blacklist of “businesses and business entities that are publicly traded and not based in the United States” that boycott Israel and territories it occupies. The law prohibits state entities from investing in or contracting with blacklisted entities for contracts of $1,000 or more. It also requires state funds to divest from blacklisted companies. Blacklisted companies can be removed from the blacklist upon written certification that they no longer boycott Israel. Related bills: SF 2281.

Defeated Legislation

Legislation
SF 2183 (2022)
Status
Defeated
Defeated On
March 2022
Type(s)
Antisemitism Redefinition
Full Text
Read SF 2183 (2022) 

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.  

Defeated Legislation

Legislation
SB 2265 (2022)
Status
Defeated
Defeated On
February 2022
Type(s)
Anti-boycott
Full Text
Read SB 2265 (2022) 

This bill, formerly HSB 639, amends Iowa’s 2016 anti-boycott law (HF 2331), and expands the definition of companies subject to the law  to include a “wholly owned subsidiary, majority-owned subsidiary, parent company, or affiliate of such business or business.”

Iowa’s anti-boycott law requires state entities to create a blacklist of entities that boycott Israel and territories it occupies. The law prohibits state entities from investing in or contracting with blacklisted entities for contracts of $1,000 or more.  The amendments in HF2373 are specifically aimed at Ben & Jerry’s and in response to the ice cream company’s 2021 announcement that it would stop doing business in illegal Israeli settlements. Ben and Jerry’s and its London-based parent company, Unilever, have come under attack from Israel and its allies who have called for states to use anti-boycott laws to divest from Unilever. The bill was signed by the governor in March 2022 and will go into effect in July 2022.

A companion bill, HF 2373 (formerly HB 639), was signed by the governor in March 2022 and will go into effect in July 2022.

Defeated Legislation

Legislation
HF 2504
Status
Defeated
Defeated On
January 2021
Type(s)
Antisemitism Redefinition
Full Text
Read HF 2504 

This antisemitism redefinition bill requires state entities to consider the IHRA definition of antisemitism, including its examples related to Israel, in determining whether an alleged act of discrimination “was motivated by discriminatory antisemitic intent.” This distorted definition could encompass almost any criticism of Israel, and its adoption thereby encourages censorship of constitutionally protected advocacy for Palestinian rights. Related bills: HF 2303.

Defeated Legislation

Legislation
HF 2303
Status
Defeated
Defeated On
March 2020
Type(s)
Antisemitism Redefinition
Full Text
Read HF 2303 

This antisemitism redefinition bill requires state entities to consider the IHRA definition of antisemitism, including its examples related to Israel, in determining whether an alleged act of discrimination “was motivated by discriminatory antisemitic intent.” This distorted definition could encompass almost any criticism of Israel, and its adoption thereby encourages censorship of constitutionally protected advocacy for Palestinian rights. This bill was withdrawn and replaced by the substantially similar bill HF 2504.

Defeated Legislation

Legislation
SF 2281
Status
Defeated
Defeated On
April 2016
Type(s)
Anti-boycott, State Contracts, State Investments
Full Text
Read SF 2281 

This anti-boycott bill requires state entities to create a blacklist of “businesses and business entities that are publicly traded and not based in the United States” that boycott Israel and territories it occupies. The law prohibits state entities from investing in or contracting with blacklisted entities for contracts of $1,000 or more. It also requires state funds to divest from blacklisted companies. Blacklisted companies can be removed from the blacklist upon written notification that they no longer boycott Israel. SF 2281’s companion bill, HF 2331, was passed into law.

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