Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Arkansas General Assembly, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
1 State of Arkansas As Engrossed: S3/11/25 H4/9/25
2 95th General Assembly
A Bill
3 Regular Session, 2025 SENATE BILL 352
4
5 By: Senators Stone, Gilmore, Hester, B. Johnson, B. Davis, M. McKee, J. Dotson, J. Boyd
6 By: Representatives Beaty Jr., B. McKenzie, Gramlich, Walker, Achor, Andrews, Barker, Bentley, Breaux,
7 Brooks, A. Brown, K. Brown, M. Brown, N. Burkes, Joey Carr, John Carr, Cavenaugh, Cozart, Crawford,
8 Eaves, Eubanks, Furman, Hawk, Holcomb, Lundstrum, Maddox, McClure, McNair, J. Moore, Ray,
9 Richmond, Rose, Rye, M. Shepherd, Underwood, Unger, Vaught, Warren, Wooten
10
11 For An Act To Be Entitled
12 AN ACT TO PROHIBIT ANTISEMITISM IN PUBLIC ELEMENTARY
13 AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS; TO PROHIBIT ANTISEMITISM IN
14 STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION; AND
15 FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
16
17
18 Subtitle
19 TO PROHIBIT ANTISEMITISM IN PUBLIC
20 ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS; AND TO
21 PROHIBIT ANTISEMITISM IN STATE-SUPPORTED
22 INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
23
24 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
25
26 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 6, Chapter 16, is amended to add an
27 additional subchapter to read as follows:
28 Subchapter 20 -- Prohibition Against Antisemitism in Public Elementary and
29 Secondary Schools
30
31 6-16-2001. Legislative findings and intent.
32 (a) The General Assembly finds that:
33 (1) A historic rise in antisemitic violence, harassment, and
34 discrimination has occurred at kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12)
35 schools across the United States, targeting Jewish students;
36 (2) In April 2024, the Director of the Federal Bureau of
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1 Investigation found that the number of Federal Bureau of Investigation
2 investigations into antisemitic hate crimes tripled in the months after
3 October 7, 2023;
4 (3) According to a recent Gallup poll, eighty-one percent (81%)
5 of Americans now see antisemitism as either a "very serious" or "somewhat
6 serious" problem, up from fifty-seven percent (57%) two (2) decades ago;
7 (4) Acts of antisemitism on kindergarten through grade twelve
8 (K-12) school campuses undermine the educational and social fabric of our
9 educational institutions; and
10 (5) Promoting understanding, tolerance, and respect for all
11 students and school employees is imperative.
12 (b) It is the intent of the General Assembly to require all
13 kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12) schools to address and prohibit
14 antisemitic discrimination at kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12)
15 schools in the same manner kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12) schools
16 would address and prohibit any other form of discrimination prohibited by
17 law, including without limitation discrimination on the basis of race.
18
19 6-16-2002. Definitions.
20 As used in this section:
21 (1) "Antisemitism" means the same as defined by the
22 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance in its working definition of
23 antisemitism, including its contemporary examples, as it was adopted on May
24 26, 2016;
25 (2) "Institution of higher education" means a public two-year or
26 four-year institution of higher education; and
27 (3) "School" means a kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12):
28 (A) Public school or public school district; or
29 (B) Open-enrollment public charter school.
30
31 6-16-2003. Requirements.
32 (a) Each school shall treat harassment or discrimination that is
33 motivated by or includes antisemitic intent by a student or school employee
34 or is a result of school policies or programs on the school campus in the
35 same manner as any other form of discrimination prohibited by state or
36 federal law.
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1 (b) Each school district board of directors shall adopt policies that
2 include:
3 (1) The definition of antisemitism under this subchapter; and
4 (2) Prohibited conduct as it specifically relates to
5 antisemitism, which shall include:
6 (A) Harassment and discrimination against Jews in
7 compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Pub. L. No. 88-352,
8 as it existed on January 1, 2025;
9 (B) Antidiscrimination regulations provided by the United
10 States Department of Education and the United States Department of Justice;
11 and
12 (C) Relevant state-level antidiscrimination laws.
13 (c) Each school is encouraged to:
14 (1) Incorporate antisemitism awareness training into any
15 required anti-bias training for all students, school employees, school
16 administrators, and school campus police; and
17 (2) Integrate Jewish-American heritage curriculum for students
18 that incorporates Jewish experiences in the United States pre- and post-
19 American Revolution, pre- and post-World War II and the Holocaust, and in
20 modern times.
21 (d) Each school shall place reasonable time, place, and manner
22 restrictions on speech to ensure order and protect the rights of all
23 students.
24
25 6-16-2004. Monitoring requirement.
26 (a)(1) The Department of Education shall designate a Title VI
27 Coordinator who shall monitor all complaints of discrimination and
28 harassment, including without limitation antisemitic discrimination and
29 harassment, at schools and institutions of higher education.
30 (2) The individual designated by the department as a Title VI
31 Coordinator under subdivision (a)(1) of this section may be a current
32 employee of the department.
33 (b) Each school and institution of higher education shall formally
34 report an incident or complaint of discrimination or harassment under this
35 subchapter to the Title VI Coordinator.
36 (c) The Title VI Coordinator established under this section shall:
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1 (1) Establish, maintain, and publicize a formal reporting
2 process whereby the following individuals may submit a complaint of
3 discrimination or harassment:
4 (A) All students, parents, legal guardians, and persons
5 standing in loco parentis to students, and school employees can submit a
6 complaint of discrimination or harassment;
7 (B) All students enrolled in an institution of higher
8 education; and
9 (C) All faculty and staff employed by an institution of
10 higher education.
11 (2)(A) Thoroughly investigate a complaint received under this
12 section.
13 (B)(i) If the Title VI Coordinator, after reasonable
14 investigation, determines that a school or an institution of higher education
15 has engaged in, allowed, or not taken the necessary action in response to
16 antisemitic discrimination prohibited under this antisemitic discrimination
17 prohibited under this subchapter or any other form of prohibited
18 discrimination, then the Title VI Coordinator shall provide written notice to
19 the school or institution of higher education to address the Title VI
20 Coordinator's concerns within thirty (30) days of receipt of the notice.
21 (ii) If the Title VI Coordinator determines that a
22 school or an institution of higher education has not taken the necessary
23 action in accordance with the notice received under subdivision (c)(2)(B)(i)
24 of this section within thirty (30) days, then the Title VI Coordinator shall
25 report its finding to the:
26 (a) Attorney General's office for action; and
27 (b) United States Department of Education and
28 United States Department of Justice by making a complaint under Title VI of
29 the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Pub. L. No. 88-352; and
30 (3) By June 30 of each year issue an annual report on
31 discrimination in schools and institutions of higher education to the General
32 Assembly, which shall include without limitation the following:
33 (A) The number and type of discrimination-related
34 incidents;
35 (B) The category of bias-motivation, including
36 antisemitism; and
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1 (C) How reports of discrimination were resolved or if the
2 reports of discrimination are pending resolution.
3 (d) The General Assembly is encouraged to:
4 (1) Conduct hearings or investigations to assess any school or
5 institution of higher education that is found to inadequately address
6 discrimination and harassment complaints under this section; and
7 (2) Consider reducing or eliminating any state funding provided
8 to a school or state-supported institution of higher education that is found
9 to inadequately address discrimination and harassment complaints under this
10 section.
11
12 6-16-2005. Exceptions.
13 (a) Nothing in this act shall be construed to diminish or infringe
14 upon any right protected under the First Amendment to the United States
15 Constitution or Arkansas Constitution, Article 2, �� 4, 6, and 24.
16 (b) Nothing in this act shall be construed to conflict with federal or
17 state discrimination laws.
18 (c) Criticism of Israel similar to the criticism leveled against any
19 other country shall not be regarded as antisemitic.
20
21 SECTION 2. Arkansas Code Title 6, Chapter 60, is amended to add an
22 additional subchapter to read as follows:
23 Subchapter 16 -- Prohibition Against Antisemitism in Institutions of Higher
24 Education
25
26 6-60-1601. Legislative findings and intent.
27 (a) The General Assembly finds that:
28 (1) A historic rise in antisemitic violence, harassment, and
29 discrimination has occurred at institutions of higher education across the
30 United States, targeting Jewish students;
31 (2) In April 2024, the Director of the Federal Bureau of
32 Investigation found that the number of Federal Bureau of Investigation
33 investigations into antisemitic hate crimes tripled in the months after
34 October 7, 2023;
35 (3) According to a recent Gallup poll, eighty-one percent (81%)
36 of Americans now see antisemitism as either a "very serious" or "somewhat
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As Engrossed: S3/11/25 H4/9/25 SB352
1 serious" problem, up from fifty-seven percent (57%) two (2) decades ago;
2 (4) Acts of antisemitism on institution of higher education
3 campuses undermine the educational and social fabric of our educational
4 institutions; and
5 (5) Promoting understanding, tolerance, and respect for all
6 students and institution of higher education employees is imperative.
7 (b) It is the intent of the General Assembly to require all
8 institutions of higher education to address and prohibit antisemitic
9 discrimination at institution of higher education campuses in the same manner
10 as institutions of higher education would address and prohibit any other form
11 of discrimination prohibited by law, including without limitation
12 discrimination on the basis of race.
13
14 6-60-1602. Definitions.
15 As used in this section:
16 (1) "Antisemitism" means the same as defined by the
17 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance in its working definition of
18 antisemitism, including its contemporary examples, as it was adopted on May
19 26, 2016; and
20 (2) "Institution of higher education" means a public two-year or
21 four-year institution of higher education.
22
23 6-60-1603. Requirements.
24 (a) Each institution of higher education shall treat harassment or
25 discrimination that is motivated by or includes antisemitic intent by a
26 student enrolled in the institution of higher education or an individual
27 employed by the institution of higher education or that is a result of
28 institution of higher education policies or programs on the institution of
29 higher education campus in the same manner as any other form of
30 discrimination prohibited by state or federal law.
31 (b) Each institution of higher education shall incorporate into its
32 student and employee codes of conduct:
33 (1) The definition of antisemitism under this subchapter; and
34 (2) Prohibited conduct as it specifically relates to
35 antisemitism, which shall include:
36 (A) Harassment and discrimination against Jews in
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1 compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Pub. L. No. 88-352,
2 as it existed on January 1, 2025;
3 (B) Antidiscrimination regulations provided by the United
4 States Department of Education and the United States Department of Justice;
5 and
6 (C) Relevant state-level antidiscrimination laws.
7 (c) Each institution of higher education is encouraged to:
8 (1) Incorporate antisemitism awareness training into any
9 required anti-bias training for all students enrolled in the institution of
10 higher education and individuals employed by the institution of higher
11 education; and
12 (2) Integrate Jewish-American heritage curriculum for students
13 enrolled in the institution of higher education that incorporates Jewish
14 experiences in the United States pre- and post-American Revolution, pre- and
15 post-World War II and the Holocaust, and in modern times.
16 (d) Each institution of higher education shall place reasonable time,
17 place, and manner restrictions on speech to ensure order and protect the
18 rights of all students enrolled in the institution of higher education.
19
20 6-60-1604. Monitoring.
21 Each institution of higher education shall comply with monitoring and
22 reporting requirements under � 6-16-2004.
23
24 6-60-1605. Exceptions.
25 (a) Nothing in this act shall be construed to diminish or infringe
26 upon any right protected under the First Amendment to the United States
27 Constitution or Arkansas Constitution, Article 2, �� 4, 6, and 24.
28 (b) Nothing in this act shall be construed to conflict with federal or
29 state discrimination laws.
30 (c) Criticism of Israel similar to the criticism leveled against any
31 other country shall not be regarded as antisemitic.
32
33 /s/Stone
34
35
36
7 04-09-2025 10:51:59 TNL098Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.