Last week the Missouri House and Senate passed HB 2061 sponsored by Rep George Hruza.

This bill mandates that high school and college teachers may not use anti-semitic language in their curriculum and bans students from anti Jewish activities and anti Israel speech unless the speech is protected by the first amendment.

The bill creates Title VI coordinator positions at both the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Coordinating Board for Higher Education. These coordinators will establish formal reporting processes for complaints of antisemitic discrimination and harassment, thoroughly investigate all complaints, and compile annual reports to track trends and ensure accountability.

In 2026, it seems reasonable that teachers should not be teaching prejudice or hate of any group. That is already federal law.

The new Missouri law, if signed by Governor Kehoe, defines “antisemitism” and requires that public schools, school districts, and public institutions of higher education integrate the definition of antisemitism into codes of conduct and prohibit antisemitic conduct in the same manner that discrimination motivated by race is treated.

Text in new law: 160.014. The general assembly finds that all persons are equal before the law and are entitled to equal rights and opportunities under the law pursuant to article I, section 2 of the Constitution of Missouri and the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. The general assembly condemns discrimination in all forms.

Then this section is added: Antisemitism is a form of discrimination. This statement seems unnecessary but then the bill becomes very troublesome with the following addition.

As used in this section and section 160.015, the following terms mean

“Antisemitism” or “antisemitic”, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism, including its contemporary examples, as it was adopted on May 26, 2016, as a tool and guide for recognizing and combating antisemitism.

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) is based in Berlin, Germany and claims to have 35 member countries. Their goal is a noble one: to strengthen, advance and promote Holocaust education, research and remembrance.

However, the IHRA definition is not a legal standard and is dangerously vague. The IHRA definition was developed as a non-binding educational and data-collection tool—not for use in enforcement. It defines antisemitism as “a certain perception of Jews,” a formulation so indeterminate that speakers and institutions cannot reasonably know what expression is prohibited.

Missouri legislators should not be mandating that Missouri teachers use curriculum written by a foreign non government organization — no matter how noble the cause.

The mandates continue: Each educational institution shall adopt a policy clearly defining antisemitism utilizing context and other relevant factors into such educational institution’s student, faculty, and employee codes of conduct and shall prohibit such conduct at or by such educational institution if such conduct creates an atmosphere or circumstance in which individuals working at, visiting, or attending the educational institution and the educational institution’s services and facilities either by physically impeding such activity or by creating an atmosphere of fear or intimidation.

The 7 page bill mandates that schools provide an annual report to the Missouri Legislators and that violations be submitted to DESE and posted publicly on the website of the coordinating board for higher education.

Our schools are struggling. They do not need more rules. They do not need more mandates. They do not need more duplication of laws to try and comply with.

Discrimination is wrong and already against federal law. Will another law help? Will hiring more bureaucrats keep haters from hating? No.

Despite the problems with this bill, it passed the Missouri House 100 to 17 (46 reps did not vote) It passed the Missouri Senate 30 to 0 (4 senators did not vote).

The last day of the 2026 Missouri legislative session is Friday May 15, 2026.