U.S. State Anti-BDS Legislation

Individual state governments began taking action against the anti-Israel boycott, divest, sanction (BDS) movement in 2015, with legislative enactments, legislative resolutions, and issuance of executive orders by state governors.  The two tables below  list these state enactments, first, by the basic types of the enactments, and second by the date of enactment.  The text of each enactment is available in PDF format from both tables.

¹ The statutes in Arizona, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and North Carolina include both categories.
² On September 27, 2018, the Federal District Court granted a preliminary injunction enjoining enforcement of the contracting prohibition.  However, the injunction does not affect the investing prohibition.  An appeal by the Arizona Attorney General has been taken.  Additional information and litigation documents are available on the BDS Litigation page.
³ A lawsuit challenging the Kansas statute was dismissed upon agreement of the parties after approval of a legislative amendment narrowing the scope of the prohibition.  Additional information and litigation documents are available on the BDS Litigation page.
⁴ The Arkansas statute has been challenged in a lawsuit filed in December 2018. The statute was struck down on appeal.  Additional information and litigation documents are available on the BDS Litigation page.
⁵ An injunction was issued against the Texas statute, but after it was amended, the Court of Appeals vacated the injunction and ordered the case dismissed as moot.  Additional information and litigation documents are available on the BDS Litigation page.
⁶ The Georgia statute has been challenged in a lawsuit filed in February 2020.  A motion to dismiss was granted in part and denied in part.  Additional information and litigation documents are available on the BDS Litigation page.
⁷ The Maryland Executive Order has been challenged in a lawsuit filed in January 2019.  A motion to dismiss was granted. The case in pending on appeal. Additional information and litigation documents are available on the BDS Litigation page.

¹ The Arizona statute, originally signed into law on 17 Mar 2016, was amended on 16 Apr 2019.
² The Texas statute, originally signed into law on 2 May 2017, was amended on 7 May 2019.
³ The Kansas statute, originally signed into law on 16 Jun 2017, was amended on 18 Apr 2018.
⁴ The executive order in Wisconsin has been superseded by legislative enactment.
⁵ The executive order in Kentucky has been superseded by legislative enactment.