Missouri’s antisemitism bill is about to become law — and you can watch it happen

Jordan Palmer and Bill Motchan, St. Louis Jewish Light

Published April 22, 2026

Missouri’s antisemitism bill is about to become law—and if you want to see it happen, you won’t need to leave your desk.

Gov. Mike Kehoe is scheduled to sign House Bill 2061 at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23, in Jefferson City, marking a major step for the Missouri antisemitism bill that has moved quickly through the legislature. The ceremony will be livestreamed on the governor’s Facebook and Twitter pages, giving the public a front-row seat to a moment that has been weeks in the making.

We’ll be watching, too—and we’ll have a full wrap from Jefferson City in your inbox Friday morning.

What the bill does

Missouri lawmakers gave final approval to HB 2061 on April 8, with the House voting 100-17 after the Senate passed it unanimously, 30-0. The legislation adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism as a tool for schools and universities.

If signed, Missouri will become the 39th state to do so.

The bill requires public schools, districts and higher education institutions to incorporate that definition into their codes of conduct and treat antisemitic discrimination with the same seriousness as acts motivated by race or other protected categories.

Supporters say it gives schools clearer guidance on how to respond to incidents that, until now, have often fallen into gray areas.

“This legislation will begin to address the 300+% rise in antisemitism in Missouri since the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israelis, providing substantive protection for our Jewish students,” said bill sponsor Rep. George Hruza, R-St. Louis County.

Where free speech fits in

The bill moved forward with broad bipartisan support, but not without debate.

Concerns about free speech surfaced early, particularly around whether the definition could be used to limit criticism of Israel. Lawmakers responded by adding language clarifying that the measure targets discriminatory conduct, not protected expression.

Students can still express political views, including criticism of Israel. But behavior that crosses into harassment, intimidation or denial of equal access would be treated as discrimination.

The final version also expands coverage to include charter schools and reinforces that the law applies broadly to discrimination, while identifying antisemitism as a specific form.

A signal beyond policy

Local Jewish leaders have framed the bill as both a practical tool and a sign of consensus.

“We appreciate the many people and organizations that advocated for or offered other considerations on this bill,” said Danny Cohn, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis. “Diverse dialogue helped refine the legislation and reflects the kind of principled, good faith debate that our community values.”

Jordan Kadosh, regional director of ADL Heartland, called the unanimous Senate vote “a true act of allyship with the Jewish community at our hour of need.”

Myron Freedman, executive director of the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum, pointed to its impact in classrooms.

“We applaud this legislation that serves to ensure the protection of educators and students in the learning environment,” he said.

What happens next

After the governor signs the bill, the law will take effect later this year. Schools that fail to address antisemitic incidents could risk violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, potentially putting federal funding at stake.