Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb vetoed a bill on Monday that aimed to define antisemitism in the state's education code. The bill, which was intended to address antisemitism on college campuses, faced opposition due to concerns that early versions of it could penalize individuals for criticizing Israel.
The disagreements between lawmakers in the Republican-controlled state House and Senate almost derailed the bill, but a compromise was reached in the final hours of the legislative session on March 8. This was the second attempt by the state House to pass such legislation, with a similar bill failing to progress in the state Senate last year.
The bill sought to broadly define antisemitism as religious discrimination in order to provide educational opportunities free of religious bias. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance defines antisemitism as a certain perception of Jews that may manifest as hatred towards them.
While over 30 states have adopted the IHRA definition in some form, the Indiana bill faced criticism for its inclusion of examples directly referencing Israel. Opponents argued that such references could stifle criticism of Israel and advocacy for Palestinians facing humanitarian crises.
After passing through both chambers with bipartisan support, Governor Holcomb vetoed the bill, citing concerns about the exclusion of the IHRA's full definition and the potential ambiguity in the language of the bill. However, he signed a proclamation condemning all forms of antisemitism, which aligns with the IHRA definition and its examples.
The Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council and the Indiana Muslim Advocacy Network expressed support for the final version of the bill after it passed. They emphasized the importance of correctly applying the IHRA definition to identify and confront antisemitism in educational settings.
While Governor Holcomb's veto can be overturned by lawmakers with a simple majority, it remains uncertain if or when they might reconvene to address the issue. The push to define antisemitism in various states predates recent conflicts and has gained momentum in light of ongoing global events.
Other states, including Arkansas, Georgia, and South Dakota, have already signed similar measures into law, with a proposal awaiting gubernatorial review in Florida.
