The Senate Committee on Appropriations recently advanced a bill 18-0 to the chamber floor that would expand Florida’s anti-Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) law to include academic institutions and non-profit organizations participating 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).

Sen. 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.

SB 1678 would do several other things to protect Jewish entities in Florida. They include.

• Divest from companies and other entities that engage in a boycott of Israel
• Requires universities within the State University System endowment and retirement funds
  divest from businesses and other entities that engage in a boycott of the Jewish State
• Mandates applicants for the Department of State’s arts and culture grants confirm that they will comply with relevant anti-discrimination laws and will not participate in antisemitic discrimination through the term of their grant project

Across the board, Florida has been at the forefront in protecting the Jewish State, especially after the Hamas terrorist attack on the country on October 7, 2023.

Gov. Ron DeSantis also recently unveiled a Holocaust memorial in honor of the more than six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust. The governor also recognized its survivors, some of whom later made their homes in the Sunshine State.

If fully passed and signed by Gov. DeSantis, SB 1678/HB 1519 would take effect on July 1.