Defines “anti-Semitism” for the state human affairs commission to use while investigating and working to resolve complaints of discrimination and for the commission against prejudice and bias to use in defining hate crimes.

# Summary of Rhode Island Bill: Defining "Anti-Semitism"

This bill would establish an official legal definition of "anti-Semitism" for use by two Rhode Island state bodies: the State Human Affairs Commission, which investigates complaints of discrimination, and the Commission Against Prejudice and Bias, which works on issues related to hate crimes. The goal is to give these agencies a clear, standardized definition to rely on when they receive complaints or investigate cases that may involve anti-Jewish discrimination or bias.

The definition provided in the bill is based on the widely referenced International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition. It describes anti-Semitism as a certain perception of Jewish people that may be expressed as hatred toward them. The bill includes a detailed list of examples of what could constitute anti-Semitism, such as calling for violence against Jewish people, promoting stereotypes about Jewish power or control, denying the Holocaust, and holding Jewish citizens responsible for the actions of the state of Israel. It also includes examples related to Israel, such as denying the Jewish people's right to self-determination, applying double standards to Israel that aren't applied to other nations, or comparing contemporary Israeli policies to those of the Nazis.

The bill affects how state agencies evaluate and process discrimination complaints and hate crime classifications. It does not create new crimes or penalties but rather provides a framework to help officials consistently identify when anti-Semitic bias may be a factor in a case. The bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process, having been introduced and referred to the House State Government & Elections Committee for consideration.