Wisconsin

This bill provides that each state agency or other body in state government, each local governmental unit, and each employee or official of the state or a local governmental unit must consider the definition of antisemitism adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance on May 26, 2016, including its examples, when evaluating evidence of discriminatory intent for any law, ordinance, or policy in Wisconsin that prohibits discrimination based on race, religion, color, or national origin or that provides for enhanced criminal penalties for criminal offenses when the defendant intentionally selects the victim or group of victims or selects the property that is damaged or otherwise affected by the crime because of the victim’s or group of victims’ actual or perceived race, religion, color, or national origin. The bill specifies that nothing in the bill may be construed to diminish or infringe upon any right protected under the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution or to conflict with federal or state antidiscrimination laws. LRB-4595/1 MPG:cdc 2025 – 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 445

This bill provides that each state agency or other body in state government, each local governmental unit, and each employee or official of the state or a local governmental unit must consider the definition of antisemitism adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance on May 26, 2016, including its examples, when evaluating evidence of discriminatory intent for any law, ordinance, or policy in Wisconsin that prohibits discrimination based on race, religion, color, or national origin or that provides for enhanced criminal penalties for criminal offenses when the defendant intentionally selects the victim or group of victims or selects the property that is damaged or otherwise affected by the crime because of the victim’s or group of victims’ actual or perceived race, religion, color, or national origin. The bill specifies that nothing in the bill may be construed to diminish or infringe upon any right protected under the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution or to conflict with federal or state antidiscrimination laws.

EO 261 is an anti-boycott executive order that prohibits state contracts with business entities that boycott Israel and allows state agencies to terminate a contract with a business entity that boycotts Israel during the term of the contract.

AB 553 is an anti-boycott law that prohibits state contracts valued at $100,000 or more with companies, including sole proprietorships, that boycott Israel or territories it occupies. Contractors must provide written certification that they are not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in such boycotts. It also prohibits state agencies or local governmental units from boycotting Israel, a provision aimed at discouraging divestment campaigns at public universities. The legislation codifies and narrows the governor’s 2017 executive order (EO 261). Related legislation: SB 450.

SB 450 is an anti-boycott bill that prohibits state contracts with persons that boycott Israel or territories it occupies. Contractors must provide written certification that they are not and will not for the duration of the contract engage in such boycotts. It also prohibits state agencies or local governmental units from boycotting Israel, a provision aimed at discouraging divestment campaigns at public universities. An amendment changed “persons” to “companies,” defined as including sole proprietorships, and limited the application of the bill to contracts valued at $100,000 or more. Related legislation: AB 553 (passed).

SJR 88 is a non-binding resolution that condemns boycott, divestment, and sanctions efforts for Palestinian rights and “opposes all efforts to assault the legitimacy of Israel as the sovereign homeland of the Jewish people.”

AJR 103 is a non-binding resolution that condemns boycott, divestment, and sanctions efforts for Palestinian rights and “opposes all efforts to assault the legitimacy of Israel as the sovereign homeland of the Jewish people.”