Kansas

This anti-boycott law amends Kansas’ previous law (HB 2409) to remove individuals, sole proprietors, and contracts worth less than $100,000 from the purview of the state contract prohibition. The law requires contractors to sign a written certification that they are “not currently engaged in a boycott of goods or services from Israel that constitutes an integral part of business conducted or sought to be conducted with the state.” 

In 2018, a federal court blocked Kansas from enforcing the law on grounds that the “First Amendment protects the right to participate in political boycotts like the one punished by the Kansas law.” In response, Kansas lawmakers amended the law so that it no longer applied to individuals like the plaintiff, rendering the case moot, but leaving the underlying constitutional issues unresolved. The amended law leaves in place the prohibition on Kansas public entities boycotting Israel or those doing business in Israel or the territories it occupies.  Related bill: HB 2778.

This anti-boycott defunding bill penalizes higher education institutions that use state aid to fund or provide funds for membership in or travel to meetings of academic entities that engage in or support academic boycotts. Schools that violate the prohibition will have the funding deducted from future state aid. The bill was introduced in response to resolutions by the Asian American Studies Association and American Studies Association endorsing the boycott of Israeli academic institutions complicit in Israel’s human rights violations.

This anti-boycott defunding bill penalizes higher education institutions that use state aid to fund or provide funds for membership in or travel to meetings of academic entities that engage in or support academic boycotts. Schools that violate the prohibition will have the funding deducted from future state aid. The bill was introduced following resolutions by the Asian American Studies Association and American Studies Association endorsing the boycott of Israeli academic institutions complicit in Israel’s human rights violations. 

This affirmative bill repeals Kansas’ anti-boycott law, which had been revised in 2018 (HB 2482) after a federal court blocked the implementation of the previous version (HB 2409) on the basis that it would violate the constitution. Kansas law currently prohibits state contracts over $100,000 with entities, excluding sole proprietors, that boycott Israel and territories occupied by Israel.

This anti-boycott bill prohibits state contracts with individuals or companies that boycott Israel or territories occupied by Israel. Contractors are required to sign a written certification that they are not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in a boycott of Israel. The bill also precludes Kansas from adopting policies that have the effect of requiring or inducing others to boycott Israel, a provision aimed at discouraging divestment campaigns at public universities. Related bill: HB 2409.

This anti-boycott bill amends Kansas’ previous law (HB 2409) to remove individuals, sole proprietors, and contracts worth less than $100,000 from the purview of the state contract prohibition. The bill requires contractors to sign a written certification that they are “not currently engaged in a boycott of goods or services from Israel that constitutes an integral part of business conducted or sought to be conducted with the state.” Related legislation: HB 2482 (passed).

This anti-boycott law prohibits state contracts with individuals or companies that boycott Israel or territories occupied by Israel. Contractors are required to sign a written certification that they are not currently engaged in a boycott of Israel. HB 2409 also precludes Kansas from adopting policies that have the effect of requiring or inducing others to boycott Israel, a provision aimed at discouraging divestment campaigns at public universities.  

In January 2018, a federal court blocked Kansas from enforcing the law on grounds that “First Amendment protects the right to participate in political boycotts like the one punished by the Kansas law.” Kansas lawmakers subsequently amended the law (HB 2482) so it no longer applied to individuals like the plaintiff. Related bill: HB 2351.