Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill on Thursday expanding Florida's present anti-Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) law to include academic institutions, companies, and non-profit organizations that engage in boycotts against Israel. The bill, SB 1678, provides another layer of support for the Jewish State since the Oct. 7th, 2023, terrorist attack by Hamas.
Sen. Tom Leek (R-Ormond Beach) filed the Senate bill. Rep. Hillary Cassel (R-Dania Beach) filed a similar House version.
"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," Leek said previously.
"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.
The law will do several things to protect Jewish entities in Florida. They include.
- Divest from companies and other entities that engage in a boycott of Israel
- Require applicants for the Department of State arts and culture grants to confirm that they will comply with relevant anti-discrimination laws and will not participate in antisemitic discrimination through the term of their grant project
- Requires universities in the State University System to divest their endowment and retirement funds from antisemitic entities.
- The State Board of Administration must divest from companies, academic institutions, or foreign governments that boycott Israel. It also must identify companies under a “Scrutinized Companies or Other Entities that Boycott Israel List."
Florida has led the way on several initiatives in the aftermath of the terrorist attack, described by some as Israel's "9-11", in which 1200 Jews were murdered.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitic incidents jumped 5% in 2024 from the previous year in America and a whopping 893% over the past decade.
Specifically, lawmakers have introduced bills to protect Jewish students on college campuses, including by U.S. Rep. Randy Fine. In March, Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiled a Holocaust memorial in honor of the more than six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust.
The law takes effect July 1.
