The Senate Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability favored a bill 8-0 on Tuesday that would expand Florida's present anti-Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) law to include academic institutions and non-profit organizations that participate in boycotts against Israel.
Sen. Tom Leek (R-Ormond Beach) filed the Senate bill (SB 1678). Rep. Hillary Cassel (R-Dania Beach) filed a House version (HB 1519).
Tom Leek explained his reasoning for the bill to the committee.
"Florida enjoys hundreds of millions of dollars in annual trade and bilateral exchange with Israeli entities, in addition to business done with many other partners who likewise have commercial interest in Israel," Leek said. "This trade encompasses many of Florida's most important economic sectors, such as water tech, disaster relief, avionics, Defense Technology Research and Development, pharma and Health Sciences."
"In light of increasing efforts to target Israel and her international partners for commercial and academic boycotts, Florida's interests must be defended against attempts to weaken the state's ability to conduct trade and exchange with Israel. Boycotts of entities and individuals on the basis of national origin, particularly Israel, often amount to ethnic, religious, racial, internationality, discrimination, which directly contradicts state public policy and the values of its citizens," Leek added.
Florida's current BDS law covers commercial boycotts.
The bill additionally would ban state financial interactions with groups that boycott Israel or participate in antisemitic discrimination or behavior. The law would also apply to political subdivisions spewing Jewish hate.
Furthermore, the bill would require grant applications to comply with the state's anti-discrimination laws and attest against participation in boycotts or antisemitic behavior against Israel. It also says that violators would be subject to penalties and repayment of funds.
Sen. Randy Fine (R-Melbourne), a strong advocate for Israel, summoned the bill up by saying Florida's university system would not work with institutions (including foreign) that boycott Israel, similar to companies in the state.
He also praised Leek for sponsoring the bill.
"I think expanding beyond companies to say we're not going to let the evil sordidness of academia that we have seen push forth with so much of this stuff over the past year and a half; that we're going to say in Florida we're not going to put up with it," Fine said.
SB 1678 now heads to the Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration. If fully passed by the Florida Legislature, the bill would take effect on July 1.
