Louisiana has an anti-boycott law in effect. The law, signed in 2019, codifies a 2018 executive order barring executive branch agencies from contracting with vendors that engage in boycotts for Palestinian rights. Multiple anti-boycott bills and resolutions have been introduced since 2016. In 2016, the legislature passed a non-binding resolution condemning boycotts for Palestinian rights.
This anti-boycott law prohibits executive branch agencies from contracting with vendors that engage in boycotts of Israel or territories occupied by Israel. Vendors must provide written certification that they are not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in such boycotts. The law applies to contracts worth $100,000 or more and companies with five or more employees. The law codifies an executive order signed in 2018.
This anti-boycottexecutive order prohibits executive branch agencies from contracting with vendors that engage in boycotts of Israel or territories occupied by Israel. Contractors must provide written certification that they are not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in such boycotts. The order applies to contracts worth $100,000 or more and companies with five or more employees.
HB 685 is an anti-boycott bill that prohibits the public employee retirement fund from investing in companies that engage in boycotts of Israel or territories occupied by Israel. The original and engrossed version of the bill required the state to create a blacklist of companies that boycott Israel to be published and updated by the state treasurer. The version of the bill that passed the House was amended to remove the language targeting boycotts for Palestinian rights. This bill replaced HB 549.
HB 549 is an anti-boycott bill that prohibits the public employee retirement fund from investing in companies that engage in boycotts of Israel or territories occupied by Israel. The bill requires the state to create a blacklist of companies that boycott Israel to be published and updated by the state treasurer. The language targeting boycotts for Palestinian rights was added in a committee substitute version. This bill was replaced by HB 685.
HR 228 is a non-binding resolution that condemns boycott, divestment, and sanctions efforts for Palestinian rights and expresses Louisiana’s support for Israel. The resolution falsely claims that boycotts for Palestinian rights foster discrimination against Jewish people. Related legislation: HCR 57.
HCR 57 is a non-binding resolution that condemns boycott, divestment, and sanctions efforts for Palestinian rights and expresses Louisiana’s support for Israel. The resolution falsely claims that boycotts for Palestinian rights foster discrimination against Jewish people. Related legislation: HR 228.
HR 236 is a non-binding resolution that urges state agencies to refuse to contract with any contractor who does not provide written certification that they are not and will not engage in boycotts of entities doing business with a jurisdiction with which Louisiana can enjoy open trade. The resolution can be seen as a prototype for subsequent binding anti-boycott legislation targeting boycotts for Palestinian rights.
