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House adopts bill declaring antisemitism against state policy; amendment to expand to racism ruled not germane
Summary
Lawmakers passed a bill declaring antisemitism against state public policy using the IHRA definition. A floor amendment to broaden the act to a general anti‑discrimination measure (adding "racism") was ruled not germane by the chair and that ruling was sustained; the bill passed on final action.
TOPEKA — The Kansas House on Wednesday passed legislation declaring antisemitism contrary to public policy and adopting a definition used by several public bodies. During floor debate Representative Winn proposed amending the bill to broaden its scope to cover "discrimination" and explicitly add the word "racism." The chair ruled the amendment not germane; members debated and ultimately sustained the chair’s ruling by roll call.
Representative Estes, the bill carrier, described the measure as a narrowed substitute for a broader original proposal. He said the substitute uses the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition to identify antisemitic behavior the state opposes, while preserving First Amendment safeguards. "The law basically uses the definition that is adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance," Estes told the chamber.
Representative Winn moved an amendment to replace the single‑subject language (antisemitism) with broader text addressing discrimination and racism. The rules chair and floor debated whether that change expanded the bill’s subject matter beyond the original scope. The chair ruled the amendment not germane on the grounds it introduced a broader subject into a narrowly tailored bill. Members debated and then voted to sustain the chair’s ruling by roll call.
Supporters of the underlying bill said it targets harassment, threats and vandalism directed at Jewish Kansans and tries to balance protections with free‑speech rights. Representative Stocksdale said a narrowed bill that removed problematic provisions from an earlier version was preferable. Critics of the floor amendment said an attempt to broaden the bill should go through the regular amendment and committee process rather than on the House floor.
Final action recorded 115 yeas and 9 nays. The bill will proceed to the next steps in the legislative process.
