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Legislation Search for: Donate State Legislation Federal Legislation Resources & Action Media Donate The right to stand for justice is under attack . Politicians are pushing unconstitutional laws to stop the movement for Palestinian freedom and shield Israel from criticism. Find out about this legislative attack, its impact, and how to protect the right to engage in BDS and other forms of activism. 293 bills introduced 23% of bills passed 38 states with legislation in effect Legislation targeting advocacy for Palestinian rights Statistics Federal States (List) States (Map) Click here to learn about our methodology Click on a state to learn more Introduced vs. passed bills Introduced: 293 Passed: 66 Only a fraction of the hundreds of bills lawmakers have introduced targeting advocacy for Palestinian rights have become law because of strong grassroots and civil liberties opposition. This chart illustrates the number of bills and executive orders introduced versus those that are in effect at the state and federal level. It does not include resolutions, affirmative legislation, or local bills. Number of Bills Introduced Over Time Type of Legislation Anti-boycott Antisemitism Redefinition Other Bills targeting advocacy for Palestinian rights have proliferated since we began tracking in 2014, and the types of bills introduced have evolved in response to the movement’s victories. Early efforts focused on defunding universities to punish or deter support for an academic boycott of Israeli institutions. Subsequent legislative efforts aimed to prohibit state contracts with or state investments in entities that support BDS . More recent legislation aims to redefine antisemitism to include criticism of Israel for use in discrimination complaints or criminal investigations. This chart illustrates the number of state and federal bills and executive orders introduced; it does not include resolutions, affirmative legislation, or local bills. Types of Laws in Effect This table illustrates the types of laws (including executive orders) targeting advocacy for Palestinian rights currently in effect at the state level. Given the common backers of the legislation, the laws are very similar across states, but there are important distinctions between different types of legislation and what each law does. Some anti-boycott laws include written certification requirements, mandating that potential contractors pledge not to boycott Israel, and some call on the state to compile public blacklists of entities that boycott for Palestinian rights or support BDS. Anti-boycott State Contracts State Investments Defunding Antisemitism Redefinition Affirmative Other Alabama ✓ ✓ Alaska Arizona ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Arkansas ✓ ✓ ✓ California ✓ ✓ Colorado ✓ ✓ Connecticut Delaware Florida ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Georgia ✓ ✓ Hawaii Idaho ✓ ✓ Illinois ✓ ✓ Indiana ✓ ✓ Iowa ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Kansas ✓ ✓ Kentucky ✓ ✓ Louisiana ✓ ✓ Maine Maryland ✓ ✓ Massachusetts Michigan ✓ ✓ Minnesota ✓ ✓ Mississippi ✓ ✓ Missouri ✓ ✓ Montana Nebraska Nevada ✓ ✓ ✓ New Hampshire ✓ ✓ ✓ New Jersey ✓ ✓ New Mexico ✓ New York ✓ ✓ North Carolina ✓ ✓ ✓ North Dakota ✓ ✓ Ohio ✓ ✓ Oklahoma ✓ ✓ Oregon Pennsylvania ✓ ✓ Rhode Island ✓ ✓ South Carolina ✓ ✓ ✓ South Dakota ✓ ✓ Tennessee ✓ ✓ ✓ Texas ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Utah ✓ ✓ Vermont Virginia ✓ Washington West Virginia ✓ ✓ Wisconsin ✓ ✓ Wyoming District of Columbia Total 36 30 14 0 8 0 0 Data Last Updated August 28, 2023 Table of Contents Overview Federal Legislation Resolutions Submit Updates Page Last Updated August 28, 2023 Overview In December 2019, Donald Trump signed an executive order redefining antisemitism (EO 13899). The executive order directs government agencies to consider a distorted definition of antisemitism designed to censor advocacy for Palestinian rights when investigating discrimination complaints. Attempts to pass similar legislation in Congress have failed, following organizing and advocacy by grassroots and civil rights groups. Since 2014, dozens of measures targeting advocacy for Palestinian rights have been introduced in Congress, only a handful of which have passed. Federal Legislation Legislation HR3016 (2023) Status Pending Introduced April 2023 Type(s) Anti-boycott Full Text Read HR3016 (2023) Overview HR3016 amends the 2018 Anti-Boycott Act to apply its anti-boycott provisions to international governmental organizations, such as the United Nations. Violations may be punishable by severe fines, up to $300,000 in civil cases, up to $1 million in criminal cases and up to 20 years in prison. The bill prohibits U.S. entities from complying with or supporting boycotts of Israel fostered or imposed by international governmental organizations, including furnishing information” about business relationships in boycotted countries. Sponsors of the bill have made clear that the bill is intended to shield Israel from international accountability efforts, and previous bills have specifically prohibited the furnishing information” for the U.N. Human Rights Council’s database of entities contributing to Israel’s illegal settlements. Take Action Ways to Take Action Legislation S1637 (2023) Status Pending Introduced May 2023 Type(s) Anti-boycott , State Contracts , State Investments Full Text Read S1637 (2023) Overview S1637, known as the Combating BDS Act of 2023, is an anti-boycott bill that purports to authorize state and local legislation prohibiting state investments in or state contracts with entities that engage in boycott, divestment, and sanctions campaigns for Palestinian rights. The bill claims that such measures are not preempted by federal law and defines BDS activities to include boycotts of Israel and persons doing business in Israel or its illegal settlements. Several courts , however, have blocked state anti-boycott laws over concerns that they suppress constitutionally protected political expression. Previous versions of the bill failed after activists, media, and civil liberties groups raised constitutional concerns ( S 1 , HR 2856 , S 170 , HR 4514 , S 2531 ). Take Action Ways to Take Action Legislation HR 3773 (2023) Status Pending Introduced May 2023 Type(s) Antisemitism Redefinition Full Text Read HR 3773 (2023) Overview This antisemitism redefinition bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit institutions of higher education from participating in federal student loan and grant programs if they authorize, facilitate, provide funding for, or otherwise support” events that run afoul of the distorted IHRA definition of antisemitism, including its contemporary examples that target advocacy for Palestinian rights. Take Action Ways to Take Action Legislation HR 4564 (2023) Status Pending Introduced July 2023 Type(s) Anti-boycott , State Contracts Full Text Read HR 4564 (2023) Overview This anti-boycott bill prohibits any federal government entity from entering into contracts with companies, including non-profits, that boycott Israel or a person doing business in or with Israel, or authorized by, licensed by, or an entity organized under the laws of the State of Israel” which would encompass illegal Israeli settlements. Contractors must provide a written certification that they are not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in such boycotts. The bill excludes contracts with a total value of less than $100,000 and contractors that have fewer than 10 employees. Take Action Ways to Take Action Legislation S 431 (2023) Status Pending Introduced February 2023 Type(s) Antisemitism Redefinition Full Text Read S 431 (2023) Overview S 431 withholds U.S. funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) unless the Secretary of State certifies in writing that no UNRWA employee, contractor, or partner organization has criticized Israel, expressed support for boycotts for justice , or propagated antisemitic rhetoric. Examples of prohibited rhetoric include describing Israelis as ‘occupiers’ or ‘settlers,’” expressing support for...