Massachusetts

Relative to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism.

Last Update: In Committee

Hearing scheduled for 07/15/2025 from 01:00 PM-08:00 PM in A-2

Relative to the divestment of state pension funds from companies providing military equipment to the State of Israel. Public Service.

This antisemitism redefinition amendment to the state budget bill adopts the problematic IHRA definition of antisemitism, which has been widely criticized for encompassing nearly all criticism of Israel and circumscribing protected political speech activities. State-level advocates mobilized to ensure that the amendment did not pass out of committee.

This anti-boycott bill prohibits state contracts with entities that adopt and apply boycotts in a discriminatory manner. The bill amends Massachusetts’ debarment law in order to penalize contractors that adopt “policies against any sovereign nation or peoples recognized by the government of the United States which are used to discriminate in violation of any state or federal law prohibiting discrimination in public accommodations or employment.” Debarred companies are prohibited from contracting with the state for a prescribed period of time. Boycotts for Palestinian rights based on an entity’s complicity in Israel’s violations do not discriminate against a protected class and thus fall outside the scope of the bill. However, the lawmakers who put forward these bills have stated their intent to exclude individuals and companies engaged in boycotts for Palestinian rights from state contracts. 

This anti-boycott bill requires persons entering into state contracts to provide written certification that they are in full compliance with state anti-discrimination laws and are not and will not for the duration of the contract refuse to do business with any person on the basis of that person’s religion, sex, national original, gender identity, or sexual orientation. The bill does not apply to contracts worth less than $10,000. Boycotts for Palestinian rights based on an entity’s complicity in Israel’s violations do not discriminate on the basis of a protected class and thus fall outside the scope of the bill. However, the lawmakers who put forward these bills have stated their intent to exclude individuals and companies engaged in boycotts for Palestinian rights from state contracts. Similar bills failed to pass in 2017-2018 following pressure from state-level advocates.

This anti-boycott bill prohibits state investments in companies that boycott Israel or companies based in Israel or territories occupied by Israel. The bill calls for the creation of a blacklist of companies that engage in such boycotts and requires public retirement systems to divest direct holdings from blacklisted companies.

This anti-boycott bill requires persons entering into state contracts to provide written certification that they are in full compliance with state anti-discrimination laws and are not and will not for the duration of the contract refuse to do business with any person on the basis of that person’s religion, sex, national original, gender identity, or sexual orientation. The bill does not apply to contracts worth less than $10,000. Boycotts for Palestinian rights based on an entity’s complicity in Israel’s violations do not discriminate on the basis of a protected class and thus fall outside the scope of the bill. However, the lawmakers who put forward these bills have stated their intent to exclude individuals and companies engaged in boycotts for Palestinian rights from state contracts. State-level organizing helped defeat these bills. Related bill: H 1685.

This anti-boycott bill requires persons entering into state contracts to provide written certification that they are in full compliance with state anti-discrimination laws and are not and will not for the duration of the contract refuse to do business with any person on the basis of that person’s religion, sex, national original, gender identity, or sexual orientation. The bill does not apply to contracts worth less than $10,000. Boycotts for Palestinian rights based on an entity’s complicity in Israel’s violations do not discriminate on the basis of a protected class and thus fall outside the scope of the bill. However, the lawmakers who put forward these bills have stated their intent to exclude individuals and companies engaged in boycotts for Palestinian rights from state contracts. State-level organizing helped defeat these bills. Related bill: S 1689.