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Overview

In July 2020, at the height of a global pandemic and in the midst of an uprising for racial justice, Missouri Governor Mike Parsons signed an anti-boycott bill into law. This law prohibits public entities from entering into a contract unless the contractor signs a written certification stating that they are not and, for the duration of the contract, will not engage in a boycott of Israel or companies doing business in Israel. Efforts by national and state-level civil and human rights groups helped defeat similar bills in 2018 and 2019. There also have been two resolutions proposed that affirmed the constitutional right to engage in boycotts for justice.

State Legislation

Legislation
SB 739
Status
In Effect
In Effect Since
August 2020
Type(s)
Anti-boycott, State Contracts
Full Text
Read SB 739 

This anti-boycott law requires state contracts to include a written certification that the contractor is not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in a boycott of Israel or companies doing business in Israel. The law applies to companies, including non-profits, with 10 or more employees and contracts of $100,000 or more. Similar bills introduced during this session had extended state contract prohibitions to boycotts of “territories controlled by Israel.” The version that passed excluded this language related to Israel’s illegal settlements. Efforts by national and state-level civil and human rights groups helped defeat similar bills in 2018 and 2019. Related Bills: SB 544, SB 594, HB 1344, HB 1738, HB 2179.

Defeated Legislation

Legislation
HB 2179 (2020)
Status
Defeated
Defeated On
May 2020
Type(s)
Anti-boycott, State Contracts
Full Text
Read HB 2179 (2020) 

This anti-boycott bill requires state contracts to include a written certification that the contractor is not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in a boycott of Israel or companies doing business in Israel. The bill applies to companies, including non-profits, with 10 or more employees and contracts of $100,000 or more. Related Bills: SB 739 (signed into law), SB 544, SB 594, HB 1344, HB 1738.

Defeated Legislation

Legislation
HB 1344
Status
Defeated
Defeated On
May 2020
Type(s)
Anti-boycott, State Contracts
Full Text
Read HB 1344 

This anti-boycott bill prohibits state contracts with a company, including a non-profit, unless that company signs a written certification that it is not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in a boycott of the state of Israel or “territories under its control,” language that would reach boycotts of Israel’s illegal settlements. This prohibition does not include contracts less than $100,000 or with companies that have fewer than 10 employees. Related Bills: SB 739 (signed into law), SB 544, SB 594, HB 1738, HB 2179.

Defeated Legislation

Legislation
SB 594
Status
Defeated
Defeated On
May 2020
Type(s)
Anti-boycott, State Contracts
Full Text
Read SB 594 

This anti-boycott bill requires state contracts to include a written certification that the contractor is not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in a boycott of Israel or companies doing business in Israel. The law applies to companies, including non-profits, with 10 or more employees and contracts of $100,000 or more. The provisions targeting boycotts for Palestinian rights were added as a committee substitute. Related Bills: SB 739 (signed into law), HB 2179, SB 544, HB 1344, HB 1738.

Defeated Legislation

Legislation
SB 544
Status
Defeated
Defeated On
May 2020
Type(s)
Anti-boycott, State Contracts
Full Text
Read SB 544 

This anti-boycott bill requires state contracts to include a written certification that the contractor is not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in a boycott of Israel or companies doing business in Israel. The law applies to companies, including non-profits, with 10 or more employees and contracts of $100,000 or more. The initial version of the bill focused on the provision of services for homeless persons; the provisions targeting boycotts for Palestinian rights were added as a committee substitute. Related Bills: SB 739 (signed into law), HB 2179, SB 594, HB 1344, HB 1738.

Defeated Legislation

Legislation
HB 1738
Status
Defeated
Defeated On
January 2020
Type(s)
Anti-boycott, State Contracts
Full Text
Read HB 1738 

This anti-boycott bill prohibits state contracts with a company, including a non-profit, unless that company signs a written certification that it is not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in a boycott of the state of Israel or “territories under its control,” language that would reach boycotts of Israel’s illegal settlements. This prohibition does not apply to contracts less than $100,000 or with companies that have fewer than 10 employees. Related Bills: SB 739 (signed into law), SB 544, SB 594, HB 1344, HB 2179.

Defeated Legislation

Legislation
SB 468
Status
Defeated
Defeated On
May 2019
Type(s)
Anti-boycott, State Contracts
Full Text
Read SB 468 

This anti-boycott bill prohibits state contracts with companies, including non-profits, unless the company signs a written certification that it is not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in a boycott of the state of Israel. This prohibition does not include contracts with a total potential value of less than $100,000 or with companies that have fewer than 10 employees. The relevant provisions targeting boycotts for Palestinian rights were added in a committee substitute for the original, unrelated bill.  

Defeated Legislation

Legislation
HB 1011
Status
Defeated
Defeated On
May 2019
Type(s)
Anti-boycott, State Contracts
Full Text
Read HB 1011 

This anti-boycott bill prohibits state contracts with companies, including non-profits, unless the company signs a written certification that it is not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in a boycott of the state of Israel or “territories under its control,” language that would reach boycotts of Israel’s illegal settlements. This prohibition does not include contracts with a total potential value of less than $100,000 or with companies that have fewer than 10 employees. Related Bills: HB 825, HB 1006, SB 308, SB 468.

Defeated Legislation

Legislation
HB 1006
Status
Defeated
Defeated On
May 2019
Type(s)
Anti-boycott, State Contracts
Full Text
Read HB 1006 

This anti-boycott bill prohibits state contracts with companies, including non-profits, unless the company signs a written certification that it is not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in a boycott of the state of Israel or “territories under its control,” language that would reach boycotts of Israel’s illegal settlements. This prohibition does not include contracts with a total potential value of less than $100,000 or with companies that have fewer than 10 employees. Related Bills: HB 825, HB 1011, SB 308, SB 468.

Defeated Legislation

Legislation
HB 825
Status
Defeated
Defeated On
May 2019
Type(s)
Anti-boycott, State Contracts
Full Text
Read HB 825 

This anti-boycott bill prohibits state contracts with companies, including non-profits, unless the company signs a written certification that it is not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in a boycott of the state of Israel or “territories under its control,” language that would reach boycotts of Israel’s illegal settlements. The prohibition does not apply to contracts valued at less than $100,000, to contractors with fewer than 10 employees, or boycotts of good or services that are not an integral part of the business to be conducted in Missouri. Related Bills: HB 1006, HB 1011, SB 308, SB 468.

Defeated Legislation

Legislation
SB 308
Status
Defeated
Defeated On
May 2019
Type(s)
Anti-boycott, State Contracts
Full Text
Read SB 308 

This anti-boycott bill prohibits state contracts with companies, including non-profits, unless the company signs a written certification that it is not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in a boycott of the state of Israel or “territories under its control,” language that would reach boycotts of Israel’s illegal settlements. This prohibition does not include contracts with a total potential value of less than $100,000 or with companies that have fewer than 10 employees. Related Bills: HB 825, HB 1011, HB 1006, SB 468.

Defeated Legislation

Legislation
HB 2179 (2018)
Status
Defeated
Defeated On
May 2018
Type(s)
Anti-boycott, State Contracts
Full Text
Read HB 2179 (2018) 

This anti-boycott bill prohibits state contracts with a company, including a non-profit, without a written certification that the company is not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in a boycott of the state of Israel. This prohibition does not include contracts with a total potential value of less than $10,000. Earlier versions of the bill had included sole proprietors in the definition of companies. Related Bill: SB 849.

Defeated Legislation

Legislation
SB 849
Status
Defeated
Defeated On
May 2018
Type(s)
Anti-boycott, State Contracts
Full Text
Read SB 849 

This anti-boycott bill prohibits state contracts with a company, including a non-profit, without a written certification that the company is not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in a boycott of the state of Israel. This prohibition does not include contracts with a total potential value of less than $10,000. Earlier versions of the bill had included sole proprietors in the definition of companies. Related bill: HB 2179.

Resolutions

Defeated Legislation

Legislation
HCR 92
Status
Defeated
Defeated On
May 2020
Full Text
Read HCR 92 

This resolution affirms the constitutional rights of all people to engage in boycott activity against an entity when they have conscientious concerns with the entity’s policies or actions. It states that Missouri shall not punish individuals by denying them a state contract for exercising their constitutional right to boycott. The resolution states that “criticism of a nation by individuals, including as a nonviolent citizens’ boycott, does not constitute bigotry against the citizens of that nation.”

Defeated Legislation

Legislation
HCR 49
Status
Defeated
Defeated On
May 2019
Full Text
Read HCR 49 

This resolution affirms the constitutional rights of all people to engage in boycott activity against an entity when they have conscientious concerns with the entity’s policies or actions. It states that Missouri shall not punish individuals by denying them a state contract for exercising their constitutional right to boycott. The resolution states that “criticism of a nation by individuals, including as a nonviolent citizens’ boycott, does not constitute bigotry against the citizens of that nation.”

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