Bill to bar state contractors from boycotting Israel passes House

Companies that discriminate against Israel would have to find another state to do business with under legislation passed Thursday in the House.

Passed 98-28, HF400, sponsored by Rep. Ron Kresha (R-Little Falls), would require that state contracts include a certification that the vendor does not discriminate against Israel. Kresha thanked members for suggestions that helped the bill evolve through the committee process, although, he said, “I’m not going to say any of this is perfect.”

The House adopted Kresha’s amendment, on a voice vote, that removed passages including the word “boycott of Israel.” It added a provision stating the bill would not interfere with a vendor’s constitutional free-speech rights.

Rep. Ilhan Omar speaks against bill HF400, sponsored by Rep. Ron Kresha, on the House Floor Feb.23. Photo by Paul Battaglia

“We shouldn’t discriminate against Israeli companies,” Kresha said. He also cited recent bomb threats against Jewish community centers, including in the Twin Cities.

“This bill is a response to that,” he said.

Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL-Rochester) disputed the idea that criticism of Israel is necessarily anti-Semitic and said she feared HF400 would lead Minnesota “down the slippery slope” of using the power of government to tell citizens with whom they may associate. Rep. Jim Davnie (DFL-Mpls) said, “I was not elected to do foreign policy.”

Rep. Frank Hornstein (DFL-Mpls) said the amendment represented “progress” but not “peace in the valley,” as some of his constitutional concerns with the bill remain. Hornstein offered, but after some debate withdrew, a delete-all amendment modeled on legislation currently under consideration in Massachusetts. It would have added “national origin” to the list of factors in existing Minnesota statute on the basis of which vendors are barred from discriminating.

The bill now goes to the Senate, where Sen. Warren Limmer (R-Maple Grove) is the sponsor.