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Committee passes substitute for House Bill 2299 adopting IHRA definition of antisemitism
Summary
A House committee approved a substitute for House Bill 2299 that declares antisemitism contrary to state public policy and adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition for guidance at public schools and law enforcement, while stating it does not limit First Amendment rights.
A House committee voted to pass a substitute for House Bill 2299 that declares antisemitism contrary to public policy and adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition, committee staff told members.
The substitute would “replace all of the language in the current House Bill 2299,” according to committee staffer Jason, and would “declare that antisemitism and antisemitic acts are against the public policy of the state,” including language addressing public educational institutions and law enforcement agencies. Jason said the bill adopts the IHRA working definition of antisemitism and its contemporary examples, dated May 2016.
The substitute also includes language intended to preserve free-speech protections. Subsection c states that “nothing in the act shall be construed to diminish or infringe upon any right protected under the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States or the Bill of Rights of the State Constitution,” a provision Jason noted during his explanation.
Committee members who spoke in favor said narrowing the bill to a definitional provision made it more comfortable for members with First Amendment concerns. Representative Silas Miller said slimming the bill to a concise definition “gets the message across a lot more simply.”
A member moved that the committee pass the substitute favorably out of committee. Representative Wolff seconded the motion. The committee adopted the substitute by voice vote; the record shows the motion carried after members answered “aye” and no recorded roll-call tally was taken. No amendments to the substitute were recorded in the committee discussion.
The substitute as approved adopts a nonbinding definition to guide state educational institutions and law enforcement agencies; the text as explained by committee staff explicitly disclaims any intent to limit constitutionally protected speech. The committee did not record a numerical vote tally on the public transcript.
The committee action will be reflected in committee minutes and transmitted to the next legislative step as required by House procedures.
