Tennessee

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

Education – As introduced, prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, disability, religion, or marital status against a student or an employee in a public institution of education; requires public institutions of education to treat harassment or discrimination against students or employees, or resulting from institutional policies or programs on their campuses, motivated by or including antisemitic intent in an identical manner to discrimination motivated by race; requires Title VI coordinators to be designated to monitor antisemitic discrimination and harassment at K-12 schools and institutions of higher education. – Amends TCA Title 49.

Latest Update: Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee

Education – As enacted, prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, or religion against a student or an employee in a public institution of education; requires public institutions of education to treat harassment or discrimination against students or employees, or resulting from institutional policies or programs on their campuses, motivated by or including antisemitic intent in an identical manner to discrimination motivated by race; requires Title VI coordinators to be designated to monitor antisemitic discrimination and harassment at K-12 schools and institutions of higher education. – Amends TCA Title 49.

Companion bill has been assigned Public Chapter Number 293 by the Secretary of State.

Latest Update: Companion bill became Pub. Ch. 293

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to discrimination in educational institutions.

Latest Update: Withdrawn

As introduced, enacts the “Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act.” – Amends TCA Title 3; Title 4 and Title 8.

HB 2673 is an antisemitism redefinition bill that requires state agencies and public educational institutions to consider the distorted IHRA definition of antisemitism in assessing discrimination allegations in Tennessee’s public schools and universities. The bill specifically references the IHRA definition’s “contemporary examples of antisemitism” which include the following as examples of antisemitism related to Israel: “[a]pplying a double standards” to Israel,” or “[d]enying the Jewish people the right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.” The definition is so broad and vague that it could encompass nearly any criticism of Israel, circumscribing political speech in support of Palestinian rights, potentially in violation of the First Amendment. 

This anti-boycott bill prohibits state contracts with companies, including nonprofits, that boycott Israel or its illegal 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 whose total value is less than $250,000 and contractors with fewer than 10 employees. A similar bill targeting boycotts for Palestinian rights was introduced in 2018 and failed to pass. Related bills: HB 2050, HB 2136. The bill passed and went into effect in July 2022.

This anti-boycott bill prohibits state contracts with companies, including nonprofits, that boycott Israel or its illegal 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 whose total value is less than $250,000 and contractors with fewer than 10 employees. A similar bill targeting boycotts for Palestinian rights was introduced in 2018 and failed to pass. Related bills: HB 2050, SB 1993.

This anti-boycott bill prohibits state contracts with companies, including nonprofits, that boycott Israel or its illegal 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 whose total value is less than $250,000 and contractors with fewer than 10 employees. A similar bill targeting boycotts for Palestinian rights was introduced in 2018 and failed to pass. A companion bill (SB 1993) passed and will go into effect in July 2022. Related bill: HB 2136. 

This antisemitism redefinition bill requires public educational institutions to consider a distorted definition of antisemitism to determine whether there has been a violation of anti-discrimination laws and policies in Tennessee’s public schools and universities. The bill adopts the 2010 US State Department fact sheet definition of antisemitism, including its contemporary examples related to Israel: “[d]emonizing of Israel,” “[s]etting double standards for Israel,” including by “[f]ocusing, by multilateral organizations, on Israel only for peace or human rights investigations,” and “[d]elegitimizing Israel.” The definition is so broad and vague that it could encompass any and all criticism of Israel, circumscribing political speech in support of Palestinian rights, potentially in violation of the First Amendment. Related Bill: HB 600.

This antisemitism redefinition bill requires public educational institutions to consider a distorted definition of antisemitism to determine whether there has been a violation of anti-discrimination laws and policies in Tennessee’s public schools and universities. The bill adopts the 2010 US State Department fact sheet definition of antisemitism, including its contemporary examples related to Israel: “[d]emonizing of Israel,” “[s]etting double standards for Israel,” including by “[f]ocusing, by multilateral organizations, on Israel only for peace or human rights investigations,” and “[d]elegitimizing Israel.” The definition is so broad and vague that it could encompass any and all criticism of Israel, circumscribing political speech in support of Palestinian rights, potentially in violation of the First Amendment. Related Bill: SB 1250.

This antisemitism redefinition bill requires public educational institutions to consider a distorted definition of antisemitism to determine whether there has been a violation of anti-discrimination laws and policies in Tennessee’s public schools and universities. The bill adopts the 2010 US State Department fact sheet definition of antisemitism, including its contemporary examples related to Israel: “[d]emonizing of Israel,” “[s]etting double standards for Israel,” including by “[f]ocusing, by multilateral organizations, on Israel only for peace or human rights investigations,” and “[d]elegitimizing Israel.” The definition is so broad and vague that it could encompass any and all criticism of Israel, circumscribing political speech in support of Palestinian rights, potentially in violation of the First Amendment. Related bills: SB 2389, HB 2357.

This antisemitism redefinition bill requires public educational institutions to consider a distorted definition of antisemitism to determine whether there has been a violation of anti-discrimination laws and policies in Tennessee’s public schools and universities. The bill adopts the 2010 US State Department fact sheet definition of antisemitism, including its contemporary examples related to Israel: “[d]emonizing of Israel,” “[s]etting double standards for Israel,” including by “[f]ocusing, by multilateral organizations, on Israel only for peace or human rights investigations,” and “[d]elegitimizing Israel.” The definition is so broad and vague that it could encompass any and all criticism of Israel, circumscribing political speech in support of Palestinian rights, potentially in violation of the First Amendment. Related Bills: HB 2357 (companion), SB 2139.

This antisemitism redefinition bill requires public educational institutions to consider a distorted definition of antisemitism to determine whether there has been a violation of anti-discrimination laws and policies in Tennessee’s public schools and universities. The bill adopts the 2010 US State Department fact sheet definition of antisemitism, including its contemporary examples related to Israel: “[d]emonizing of Israel,” “[s]etting double standards for Israel,” including by “[f]ocusing, by multilateral organizations, on Israel only for peace or human rights investigations,” and “[d]elegitimizing Israel.” The definition is so broad and vague that it could encompass any and all criticism of Israel, circumscribing political speech in support of Palestinian rights, potentially in violation of the First Amendment. Related Bills: SB 2389 (companion), SB 2139.

This anti-boycott bill prohibits state contracts with and state investment in companies, including sole proprietorships, that boycott Israel or persons or entities doing business in Israel or territories occupied by Israel. The bill requires contractors to sign a written certification that they do not and will not engage in boycotts of Israel. The bill calls for the creation of a blacklist of companies that boycott Israel and prohibits public retirement systems from investing in such companies. Related bill: HB 2142.

This anti-boycott bill prohibits state contracts with and state investment in companies, including sole proprietorships, that boycott Israel or persons or entities doing business in Israel or territories occupied by Israel. The bill requires contractors to sign a written certification that they do not and will not engage in boycotts of Israel. The bill calls for the creation of a blacklist of companies that boycott Israel and prohibits public retirement systems from investing in such companies. Related Bill: SB 1727.

This antisemitism redefinition bill requires state educational institutions to consider a distorted definition of antisemitism to determine whether there has been a violation of anti-discrimination laws and policies in Tennessee’s public schools and universities. The bill adopts the 2010 US State Department fact sheet definition of antisemitism, including its contemporary examples related to Israel of “demonizing Israel,” “applying a double standard to Israel,” and “delegitimizing Israel.” The definition is so broad and vague that it could encompass any and all criticism of Israel, circumscribing political speech in support of Palestinian rights, potentially in violation of the First Amendment. Related bill: SB 581.

This antisemitism redefinition bill requires state educational institutions to consider a distorted definition of antisemitism to determine whether there has been a violation of anti-discrimination laws and policies in Tennessee’s public schools and universities. The bill adopts the 2010 US State Department fact sheet definition of antisemitism, including its contemporary examples related to Israel of “demoniz[ing] Israel,” applying a “double standard for Israel,” and “delegitimiz[ing] Israel.” The definition is so broad and vague that it could encompass any and all criticism of Israel, circumscribing political speech in support of Palestinian rights, potentially in violation of the First Amendment. Related bill: HB 885.

A Resolution relative to the definition of antisemitism 

General Assembly, Statement of Intent or Position – Establishes a definition of antisemitism and encourages departments and agencies of state government to use such definition in determining discriminatory intent for any law or policy in this state that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin.

Latest Update: Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee

This non-binding resolution condemns boycott, divestment, and sanctions efforts, and academic boycotts, in particular. The resolution falsely claims that BDS campaigns have resulted in animosity toward Jewish students and attempts to link boycotts for Palestinian rights to rising antisemitism. The resolution reaffirms the legislature’s support for Israel and opposition to “all attempts to deny the legitimacy of Israel as a sovereign state.”