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Committee approves bill to codify IHRA definition of antisemitism in state law
Summary
Senate Bill 118 passed the Senate Judiciary Committee after proponents, including Jordan Cope of Stand With Us, said the measure would provide an objective definition to help government officials identify antisemitic motive and train staff. Witnesses emphasized the bill does not criminalize speech.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to pass Senate Bill 118, a measure to codify the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism into Arkansas law.
Senator Dodson introduced the bill and said the measure would give state officials an objective definition to assess criminal and discriminatory incidents motivated by antisemitism. Jordan Cope, director of policy education at Stand With Us, testified in support and told the committee the bill "does not criminalize anything" and "does not limit or restrict any free speech whatsoever, including speech that might be antisemitic." He said the definition is intended to help government officials identify motive and train employees.
Committee members asked a small number of procedural questions but raised no extended objections on the record. Supporters emphasized the definition's adoption by many organizations and jurisdictions; the sponsor and backers said the bill does not create a new protected class or change substantive criminal law.
A motion to pass was made and seconded; the committee approved the bill by voice vote. The transcript records the motion and passage but does not include a roll-call tally.
Next steps: SB118 passed the committee and will proceed to subsequent legislative stages.
