Oklahoma House of Representatives Passes Legislation to Fight Antisemitism at State Level

Two bills supported by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) were approved in floor votes by the Oklahoma House of Representatives on Wednesday.

SB 942 — sponsored by State Senator Kristen Thompson and State Representative Emily Gise — was passed by a 56-29 margin. This legislation defines antisemitism using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism, including its 11 contemporary examples, and mandates the integration of the definition into student, faculty, and employee codes of conduct.

Furthermore, the bill gives teeth to Title VI of the U.S. Civil Rights Act by directing the Oklahoma State Department of Education and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to designate a Title VI coordinator to monitor, review, and investigate antisemitic discrimination in public K-12 schools and post-secondary institutions.

Also approved by the Oklahoma House of Representatives on Wednesday, with a 62-24 vote, was another measure introduced by Senator Thompson and Representative Gise — SB 991, which would adopt the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism into Oklahoma state law, building on a January 2022 executive proclamation issued by Governor Kevin Stitt endorsing the definition.

“We can’t combat what we can’t define,” Representative Gise said. “This framework is going to help us understand what is and isn’t antisemitism.”

“I stand proud with the Jewish community to fight back against antisemitism,” she added.

The bills were previously advanced by the Oklahoma Senate with 31-15 and 27-15 votes on March 25.  They now head to Governor Stitt for signature.

A total of 37 U.S. states have adopted the definition, according to a database compiled by the Antisemitism Research Center by CAM.

After the bills were advanced by Senate Education and Judiciary Committees in February, Senator Thompson stated, “Oklahoma has always stood against hate, and today we move one step closer to ensuring our universities are equipped to recognize and respond decisively to antisemitism. Every student deserves an environment free from discrimination and fear.”

“With this legislation, we send a clear message: hate has no place in Oklahoma,” she added. “We stand united, committed to protecting the dignity and safety of all Oklahomans.”