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Overview

Minnesota has an anti-boycott law (HF 400) in effect that prohibits the state legislature and state agencies from entering into contracts worth $50,000 or more with vendors that discriminate against Israel or persons or entities doing business in Israel. Minnesota lawmakers have introduced several bills to repeal the state’s anti-boycott law.

State Legislation

Legislation
HF 400
Status
In Effect
In Effect Since
July 2017
Type(s)
Anti-boycott, State Contracts
Full Text
Read HF 400 

This anti-boycott law (MN Statutes 3.226 and 16C.053) prohibits the state legislature and state agencies from contracting with vendors that discriminate against Israel or persons or entities doing business in Israel. Vendors are required to provide written certification of their compliance for contracts valued at $1,000 or more. The law was subsequently amended to raise the threshold to $50,000 or more. The law defines discrimination to include “refusals to deal, terminating business activities, or other actions that are intended to limit commercial relations with Israel, or persons doing business with Israel, when such actions are taken in a manner that in any way discriminates on the basis of nationality or national origin and is not based on a valid business reason.” Although the law as written should not reach boycotts for justice, HF 400 is clearly intended to target boycotts for Palestinian rights, in particular. The original version of the bill prohibited contracts with vendors engaged in boycotts of Israel or territories occupied by Israel. The enacted version replaced “boycott” with “discrimination” and limited the scope to Israel. Companion bill: SF 247.

Defeated Legislation

Legislation
HF 1246 (2021)
Status
Defeated
Defeated On
May 2022
Type(s)
Affirmative
Full Text
Read HF 1246 (2021) 

This affirmative bill would repeal the state’s anti-boycott provisions put in place by HF 400. A similar affirmative bill was introduced in 2019 (SF 2880). Related bill: SF 1039.

Defeated Legislation

Legislation
HF 639
Status
Defeated
Defeated On
May 2017
Type(s)
Anti-boycott, State Contracts
Full Text
Read HF 639 

This anti-boycott bill requires vendors applying for state contracts to provide written certification that they are not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in a boycott of Israel or territories occupied by Israel. The requirement only applies to contracts of $1,000 or more entered into by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and by entities in the legislative branch.

Defeated Legislation

Legislation
SF 247
Status
Defeated
Defeated On
March 2017
Type(s)
Anti-boycott, State Contracts
Full Text
Read SF 247 

This anti-boycott bill prohibits the state legislature and state agencies from contracting with vendors that discriminate against Israel or persons or entities doing business in Israel. Vendors are required to provide written certification of their compliance for contracts valued at $1,000 or more. The bill defines discrimination to include boycotts of Israel or persons doing business with Israel. The companion bill (HF 400) was signed into law.

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