Bill

Title: Official government materials; use of specific geographic terminology.

Mandates that state agencies in Virginia must use the historical terms “Judea” and “Samaria” when referring to the land restored to Israel from Jordan during the 1967 Six-Day War in any official government material, which includes any written, printed, or electronic guidance, rule, material, briefing, press release, or written communication prepared by a state agency. Specifically, “Judea” refers to the land south of Jerusalem and “Samaria” refers to the land north of Jerusalem.

Prohibits state agencies from using the term “West Bank” to refer to these regions in official government materials and from using state funds to create any government material that uses “West Bank” in this context.

Last update: Passed by indefinitely in General Laws and Technology (9-Y 6-N)

Title: State Policy on Judea and Samaria

Establishes a state policy for Utah government agencies regarding the terminology used to refer to a specific geographical area. It defines “official government material” as any written, printed, electronic, or other form of content produced by a state agency, such as rules, press releases, communications, briefings, guidance, or publications.

It also defines “state agency” as any department, division, office, commission, or other state institution. The core provision mandates that it is the state’s policy to refer to the land restored to Israel from Jordan during the 1967 Six-Day War by its historical names, Judea and Samaria, with Judea being the area south of Jerusalem and Samaria the area north of Jerusalem.

Prohibits state agencies from using the term “West Bank” or using state funds to create official government material that uses this term to refer to this land. This policy is set to take effect on May 6, 2026.

Last update: House/received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst in House Rules Committee

Title: RECOGNIZING Judea and Samaria Act Retiring the Egregious Confusion Over the Genuine Name of Israel’s Zone of Influence by Necessitating Government-use of Judea and Samaria Act

Seeks to prohibit U.S. government agencies from using the term “West Bank” in official materials, instead requiring the use of the historical names “Judea and Samaria” to describe the territory annexed by Israel from Jordan during the 1967 Six-Day War. The legislation mandates that no federal funds can be used to create documents, communications, or other materials referring to the area as the “West Bank,” with exceptions for international treaty obligations.

The Secretary of State can waive this prohibition if they determine it is in the United States’ interests, but must provide a congressional explanation within 30 days. The bill also includes extensive amendments to multiple existing laws, systematically replacing all references to “West Bank” with “Judea and Samaria” across various legislative acts, including the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, the Taylor Force Act, and several other diplomatic and international trade-related statutes.

Reflects a specific geopolitical perspective on the territorial nomenclature of the region and aims to align U.S. government language with a particular interpretation of the area’s historical and political status.

Last update: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

Title: RECOGNIZING Judea and Samaria Act Retiring the Egregious Confusion Over the Genuine Name of Israel’s Zone of Influence by Necessitating Government-use of Judea and Samaria Act

Seeks to prohibit the U.S. government from using the term “West Bank” in official materials, instead requiring the use of the historical names “Judea and Samaria” when referring to the territories annexed by Israel from Jordan during the 1967 Six-Day War.

Mandates that no federal funds can be used to prepare or distribute documents using the term “West Bank”, with exceptions for international treaty obligations and a potential national interest waiver by the Secretary of State.

Requires comprehensive changes to multiple existing U.S. laws, including the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, the Taylor Force Act, and several other diplomatic and legislative acts, systematically replacing all references to “West Bank” with “Judea and Samaria”. This represents a significant shift in official U.S. terminology regarding these contested territories, reflecting a strong congressional stance in support of Israel’s historical claim to the region and potentially signaling a more pro-Israel approach to diplomatic language and documentation.

Last update: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs

Title: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 3; Title 4 and Title 8, relative to the Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act.

Mandates that Tennessee state agencies cease using the term “West Bank” in official government materials when referring to the regions of Judea and Samaria, and prohibits the use of state funds to create such materials.

Declares that Judea and Samaria are the ancestral heartland of the Jewish people, biblically significant, and that the term “West Bank” was a political construct imposed during Jordanian occupation to sever the land from its Jewish historical roots. It asserts that the historical names “Judea” and “Samaria” are accurate and that Israel’s sovereignty in these areas is consistent with international law and serves U.S. strategic interests by preventing terrorist-controlled states and promoting regional stability.

The act allows for waivers of this prohibition by agency heads under specific circumstances, requiring a written explanation to the General Assembly. This legislation takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Last update: Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee

Title: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 3; Title 4 and Title 8, relative to the Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act

Mandates that Tennessee state agencies cease using the term “West Bank” in official government materials when referring to the regions of Judea and Samaria, which the bill asserts are the ancestral heartland of the Jewish people with deep historical, spiritual, and biblical significance. The bill outlines extensive findings detailing these connections, arguing that “West Bank” is a political construct intended to erase this heritage and that the historical names “Judea” and “Samaria” are the accurate and legally appropriate terms.

State agencies are prohibited from using “West Bank” in any official government material or using state funds to create such material, with a provision allowing agency heads to waive this prohibition if deemed in the state’s interest, provided they submit a written explanation to the General Assembly. This act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Last update: Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to State & Local Government Committee

Title: Require the use of certain geographic terminology in official materials of a state agency

Mandates that state agencies in South Dakota must use specific geographic terminology when referring to land adjacent to Jordan that Israel acquired in the 1967 Six-Day War. Specifically, agencies are permitted to use only the terms “Judea and Samaria,” “Judea,” or “Samaria” in their official government materials, which include administrative rules, briefings, communications, guidance, materials, press releases, and work product documents.

Explicitly prohibits the use of the term “West Bank” in these official contexts. This requirement does not apply to teaching or research materials created or used by postsecondary instructors who are state agency employees.

A “state agency” is broadly defined to encompass all boards, commissions, departments, divisions, institutions, and offices of state government.

Last update: State Affairs Deferred to the 41st legislative day, Passed, YEAS 6, NAYS 3. SJ. 11

Title: State government; creating the Judea and Samaria Act.

Prohibits state agencies in Oklahoma from using the term “West Bank” to refer to the territory defined as “Judea and Samaria” (land controlled by Israel from Jordan since the 1967 Six-Day War) in any official government materials or using state funds to create such materials, with an exception allowing the head of a state agency to waive this prohibition if deemed in the state’s best interest, provided they submit a written explanation to the Governor and legislative leaders within thirty days.

The act defines “Judea and Samaria” geographically, “official government material” broadly to include various communications from state entities, and “state agency” as any governmental body with rule-making authority, and it is set to become effective on November 1, 2026

Last update: Second Reading referred to Rules

Title: State government; creating the Judea and Samaria Act. Effective date.

Establishes restrictions on how state agencies in Oklahoma can refer to certain geographical territories. Specifically, the bill defines “Judea and Samaria” as the land controlled by Israel from Jordan during the 1967 Six-Day War (with the area south of Jerusalem considered Judea and the area north of Jerusalem considered Samaria), and prohibits state agencies from using the term “West Bank” in official government materials when referring to these territories.

Allows an executive head of a state agency to waive this prohibition if they determine it is in the best interest of the state, but requires them to submit a written explanation to the Governor, Senate President Pro Tempore, and House Speaker within 30 days of making such a determination.

The law defines “official government material” broadly as any guidance, rule, material, briefing, press release, or communication prepared by a state agency, and applies to all state agencies as defined in the Administrative Procedures Act.

The act is set to become effective on November 1, 2026, and appears to be primarily focused on aligning state government language with a specific geopolitical perspective on the region.

Last update: Second Reading referred to Rules

Title: Use Of Certain Proper Names by State

Mandates that state agencies in New Mexico, when referring to real property adjacent to Jordan that was restored to Israel after the 1967 Six-Day War, must use the terms “Judea and Samaria,” “Judea,” or “Samaria” in official government materials, which include administrative rules, briefings, communications, guidance, press releases, and work product documents, but specifically exclude teaching or research materials from post-secondary instructors. The bill explicitly prohibits the use of the term “West Bank” in these official government materials. A “state agency” is defined broadly to encompass all branches and employees of the New Mexico state government