10/03/2026
Robert David Steele
A “no boycott mandate” refers to a legal requirement in many U.S. states that anyone entering into a state contract (or sometimes receiving state benefits) must agree in writing that they are not currently boycotting Israel and will not boycott Israel for the duration of the contract. This is part of anti-BDS laws (BDS = Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement against Israel).
As of recent data, 38 states have enacted some form of anti-BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) legislation or executive orders. These laws typically require certifications from contractors or divert state investments away from entities boycotting Israel.
States with such measures include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, with additional mandates through executive orders in states like Alaska.
- Contract-based laws require government contractors to certify they are not currently engaged in—and will not engage in—a boycott of Israel during the contract period.
- Investment laws mandate that state pension or investment funds divest from companies that boycott Israel or Israeli territories.
- Executive orders often direct state agencies to cease doing business with or investing in entities that support boycotts of Israel.