StandWithUs Commends Kansas Governor For Signing into Law Bill Against Antisemitism

(Topeka, Kansas - April, 2025) - StandWithUs applauds Kansas Governor Laura Kelly for signing into law a bill which codifies the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism. The Kansas state legislature passed Senate Bill 44 (SB 44) and presented it to Governor Kelly for signature on April 4. 

A growing number of state governments have adopted the IHRA definition into law - an important step in the fight against “the oldest hate.” In the US, cases of assault, harassment, and vandalism against Jews, as well as online attacks, have reached near-historic levels. Jewish students—who openly express their religious, ethnic, or national identity—often find themselves subject to discrimination, harassment and worse.

SB 44 declares that “antisemitism and antisemitic acts are against the public policy of this state” and adopts the IHRA definition for the purpose of helping the public educational system, law enforcement, and other institutions combat antisemitic acts as they manifest. In particular, these acts include threatening or attempting violence or vandalism against Jews and their property, wearing masks with the intent to harass or discriminate against Jews, and allowing funding of antisemitic curriculum in classes and educational programs.  

Roz Rothstein, CEO of StandWithUs, commends the Kansas state legislature and the lead sponsors of SB 44 for taking this important step against antisemitism. “We know that antisemitism is often misunderstood without a clear definition. Adopting the IHRA Definition is vital for Kansas institutions to be able to effectively identify, report, and combat antisemitism.”  

StandWithUs thanks bill sponsors Rep. Susan Estes and the House and Senate Education Committees for demonstrating moral clarity and resolve as antisemitism surges nationwide.  

There has been confusion—sometimes intentional—about what adopting the IHRA Definition means. Neither SB 44 nor the IHRA Definition creates a special non-discrimination class for Jewish people. The IHRA Definition is simply a guiding tool for how to identify antisemitism that may assist in the application of already-existing rules and laws where antisemitism may be involved.

SB 44 clarifies confusion about what antisemitism is by adopting a definition that was drafted by leading international experts to reflect the experiences of Jewish people around the world. The IHRA definition has been adopted or endorsed by over 1,200 governments, institutions, and organizations, including the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Departments of Education, Justice, and State, governments of roughly 40 countries, the European Union and the United Nations. The IHRA Definition has been supported by both Republican and Democrat presidential administrations.

Importantly, adopting the IHRA Definition does not infringe upon First Amendment (free speech) rights. People still have their own free speech rights and responsibilities to condemn incidents of hatred and bigotry and even use them as teachable moments. Referencing the IHRA definition to confront antisemitism does not violate anyone’s constitutional rights—no one has a right to be free from criticism after promoting hate.

For more information, please contact the StandWithUs Midwest at midwest@standwithus.com.

ABOUT STANDWITHUS 

StandWithUs (SWU) is a 23-year-old international non-partisan education organization that inspires people of all ages about Israel, challenges misinformation and fights against antisemitism.  

StandWithUs empowers people around the world to educate others through social media, print and digital materials in different languages, through educational programs and conferences, weekly newsletters, data and analytics, and missions to Israel.  

It takes legal action through the StandWithUs Saidoff Legal Department. It empowers hundreds of student leaders annually through its college Fellowship and high school Internship. SWU provides schools and educators with vital tools through its IsraelLINK middle school program, Holocaust Education Center, and K-12 Fairness Center. 

Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Los Angeles, StandWithUs has chapters throughout the U.S., Israel, Canada, the UK, Brazil, Argentina, the Netherlands, Australia and South Africa.   

For the last thirteen years, StandWithUs has consistently received the highest possible ratings from Charity Navigator and GuideStar, two charity watchdog groups that assess over a million charities in the United States.  This puts StandWithUs in the top 3% of charities ranked for their transparency and accountability.