Legislation
HCR 10
Status
Passed
Date Passed
December 2018
Full Text
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This non-binding resolution condemns BDS, particularly academic boycotts. The resolution falsely links boycotts for justice with rising antisemitism, claiming that such accountability efforts are “legitimizing” antisemitism on college campuses. The resolution was amended to add language also condemning “white nationalist, neo-Nazi, and national socialist groups,” thereby conflating BDS campaigns seeking justice with those that promote hate, persecution, and violence.

Legislation
HB 476
Status
Passed
Date Passed
December 2018
Type(s)
Full Text
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This anti-boycott law prohibits state contracts with companies, including sole proprietors, unless the contract includes a written certification that the company does not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in a boycott of any jurisdiction with whom Ohio can enjoy open trade, including Israel and the territories it occupies. Although the law as written should not reach boycotts for justice, HB 476 is clearly intended to target boycotts for Palestinian rights, in particular.

Legislation
SB 329
Status
Passed
Date Passed
December 2018
Type(s)
Full Text
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This anti-boycott law prohibits state contracts with and state investments in entities, including sole proprietorships, that boycott Israel or territories occupied by Israel. The law creates a blacklist of restricted companies and prohibits the state from investing in or entering into contracts worth over $1,000 with companies on the blacklist. Entities can be removed from the blacklist if they provide a written certification that they will not reengage in a boycott of Israel for the duration of any business with the state. Although this bill was defeated, the companion bill HB 161 was passed.

Legislation
HB 161
Status
Passed
Date Passed
December 2018
Type(s)
Full Text
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This anti-boycott law prohibits state contracts with and state investment in entities, including sole proprietorships, that boycott Israel or territories occupied by Israel. The law creates a blacklist of restricted companies and prohibits the state from investing in or entering into contracts worth over $1,000 with companies on the blacklist. Entities can be removed from the blacklist if they provide a written certification that they will not reengage in a boycott of Israel for the duration of any business with the state. The law excludes boycotts that have an economic impact of less than $20 million per year. Related bill: SB 329.

Legislation
AJR 122
Status
Passed
Date Passed
December 2018
Full Text
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This joint resolution condemns the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement and academic boycotts in particular. The amended version deleted language that explicitly blamed boycotts for justice for increased antisemitism, focusing instead on how the human rights movement threatens Israel’s legitimacy. The companion resolution, SJR 81, passed both houses.

Legislation
S 4169
Status
Passed
Date Passed
December 2018
Type(s)
Full Text
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This antisemitism redefinition bill adopts a definition of antisemitism for use in enforcing existing anti-discrimination laws and regulations. Though the bill does not focus on criticism of Israel, the bill declares that the IHRA definition—a distorted definition of antisemitism that could encompass virtually all criticism of Israel—includes examples of “anti-Israel acts” that cross the line into antisemitism. This statement bolsters ongoing efforts to use the IHRA definition to suppress protected speech. The bill was introduced alongside companion bill A5939.

Legislation
S 4001
Status
Passed
Date Passed
December 2018
Type(s)
Full Text
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This antisemitism redefinition bill amends the state’s anti-discrimination law applying to public schools and universities. The bill adopts a distorted definition of antisemitism that could encompass virtually all criticism of Israel, circumscribing protected political speech activities. After civil rights groups raised constitutional concerns about this bill and companion bill A5755, legislators introduced A5939/S4169, which removed several Israel-related examples from the definition.

Legislation
A 925
Status
Passed
Date Passed
December 2018
Type(s)
Full Text
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This anti-boycott bill requires state pension funds to withdraw investments from companies that boycott Israel, entities doing business with Israel, or entities in Israel or territories it occupies. The bill requires the state to create a blacklist of companies that boycott Israel. Though the bill failed, its companion bill S1923 was enacted in 2016.

Legislation
A 4665
Status
Passed
Date Passed
December 2018
Type(s)
Full Text
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This anti-boycott bill prohibits state investment in companies that boycott goods, products or businesses of Israel. The bill requires the state to create a blacklist of all investments that violate this prohibition. The bill makes an exception for companies providing humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people. Related bill: S3044.

Legislation
SJR 81
Status
Passed
Date Passed
December 2018
Full Text
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This joint resolution condemns the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement and academic boycotts in particular. The version that passed deleted language that explicitly blamed boycotts for justice for increased antisemitism, focusing instead on how the human rights movement threatens Israel’s legitimacy. Companion resolution: AJR 122.