Bill
HB 489
Ohio bill eliminates requirement that state contractors pledge not to boycott Israel, removing a 2016 certification mandate critics say violates First Amendment speech protections.
HB 489 would eliminate Ohio's requirement that state contractors certify they are not boycotting Israel or Israeli-occupied territories. This provision, enacted in 2016, currently mandates that companies contracting with the state pledge not to participate in Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movements targeting Israel. The bill removes this certification requirement from state contracting agreements.
This addresses competing constitutional concerns: the 2016 law supporters argue protects state economic interests, while critics contend mandatory Israel-loyalty pledges violate First Amendment protections for political speech and boycott activity. The bill reflects ongoing national debate over whether anti-BDS laws constitute viewpoint discrimination or legitimate protection of state resources and relationships.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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