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Committee approves bill creating Title VI coordinator role to address antisemitism in schools
Summary
HB 1188 was approved 15–0–3 by the full House Education committee after testimony from Jewish students and advocacy groups; the bill directs a Title VI‑style coordinator to review, monitor and report antisemitic discrimination at public educational institutions and integrates the IHRA definition of antisemitism into codes of conduct.
The House Education full committee on Thursday advanced House Bill 1188, a measure that would designate a Title VI‑style coordinator at the state and institutional level to review and report antisemitic discrimination and harassment in public K‑12 and higher education institutions. The committee vote was recorded as 15 ayes, 0 nays and 3 present not voting.
Sponsor Representative Grills said the bill integrates the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism and requires institutions to incorporate that contemporary example into student, faculty and employee codes of conduct. The measure also directs each Title VI coordinator to produce an annual report to the General Assembly and the attorney general.
Witnesses included David Soper of the Combat Antisemitism Movement and Jason Debner, a university student who described threats and harassment he said he experienced after October 2023 protests at his campus. “After the horrific events of October 7, protests filled with blatant antisemitism and attacks on Israel's very right to exist surrounded my campus,” Debner testified, describing threats, image manipulation and an assault he said occurred after class.
Committee members asked whether the bill would supplant or complement federal Title VI protections. Legal counsel explained that Title VI does not expressly cover religion and that the bill aims to close an enforcement gap for antisemitism at the state level; sponsors said the federal executive order addressing antisemitism is helpful but not permanent.
Representative Kinsey and others urged caution about singling out one group; sponsors and supporters said the bill responds to incidents targeting Jewish students and seeks to ensure consistent investigation and reporting of antisemitic incidents, similar to processes for race and other protected characteristics.
After debate and testimony, the committee advanced HB 1188 to calendar and rules.
