Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin has signed a bill that prohibits the state from doing business with “significant” contractors who engage in boycotts of the State of Israel, specifically those with at least five employees and doing business worth more than $100,000.
Rabbis from Chabad of the Bluegrass and Kentucky were present for the signing, as were representatives from Christians United for Israel (CUFI), US Representative Andy Barr and state Senate President Robert Stivers.
Including Kentucky, 26 states have now passed legislation banning state entities from signing contracts with those who cooperate with the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel.
The Kentucky legislation was signed August 27 at the Capitol in Frankfort at a ceremony following passage of the bill during the last regular session of the state’s Legislature, making it law.
“We are thankful for the many Kentucky citizens, both Jewish and non-Jewish, who made this possible,” said Matt Goldberg, director of the Jewish Community Relations Council, adding that the Jewish Community of Louisville was “grateful for the overwhelming bipartisan support” for the new law.