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Overview

Utah has an anti-boycott law (SB 186) in effect that prohibits state contracts with entities that engage in boycotts. The House passed a resolution in 2018 opposing BDS and boycotts for Palestinian rights.

State Legislation

Legislation
SB 186 (2021)
Status
In Effect
In Effect Since
May 2021
Type(s)
Anti-boycott, State Contracts
Full Text
Read SB 186 (2021) 

This anti-boycott bill prohibits state contracts with companies that boycott Israel. Contractors must provide a written certification that they do not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in a boycott of Israel. The bill excludes contracts whose total value is less than $100,000 and contractors that have fewer than 10 full time employees. The bill applies to boycott actions targeting Israel; individuals or companies based in Israel; and companies authorized or licensed by Israel, a provision that would reach boycotts targeting illegal settlements. Similar bills have failed to pass in previous sessions (SB 219). The legislature passed SB 186, and the law went into effect in May 2021.

Defeated Legislation

Legislation
SB 219
Status
Defeated
Defeated On
March 2020
Type(s)
Anti-boycott, State Contracts
Full Text
Read SB 219 

SB 219 is an anti-boycott bill prohibiting public entities from contracting with persons that boycott Israel. Contractors must provide a written certification that they do not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in a boycott of Israel. The bill excludes contracts whose total value is less than $100,000, contractors that have fewer than 10 employees, and those that bid at least 20% less than other bidders. The version that was introduced also applied to boycotts of illegal Israel settlements, language that was deleted in committee.

Defeated Legislation

Legislation
HB 488
Status
Defeated
Defeated On
March 2018
Type(s)
Anti-boycott, State Contracts
Full Text
Read HB 488 

HB 488 is an anti-boycott bill prohibiting public entities from contracting with companies, including sole proprietorships, that boycott Israel or Israel’s illegal settlements. This bill requires contractors to sign a written certification stating that they are not currently engaged nor will they engage in boycotts of Israel or territories occupied by Israel for the duration of the contract. It excludes contracts whose total value is less than $100,000, contractors with fewer than 10 employees, and those that bid at least 20% less than other bidders. The bill also prohibits public entities from engaging in such boycotts in an effort to target divestment or other BDS campaigns at public universities. Because HB 488 excludes boycotts based on the specific conduct of a targeted entity and those applied in a nondiscriminatory manner, boycotts for justice fall outside its scope.

Resolutions

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