What's happening
This bill prohibits New York colleges from using state funds to support academic organizations that boycott countries hosting NYS-chartered higher education institutions.
Why it matters
Limits the use of state funds by New York colleges. , potentially affecting their participation in or support for academic organizations that engage in boycotts of certain countries—specifically those hosting NYS-chartered institutions—thus shaping how colleges interact globally and manage their academic affiliations.
Penalizes non-compliance with loss of state aid. , creating significant financial consequences for colleges that violate the prohibition, which could influence institutional decision-making and governance regarding academic freedom and international relationships.
Includes key exceptions for boycotts related to terrorism, labor disputes, or discrimination. , recognizing some circumstances where such actions may still be funded or supported, and thus balancing state policy goals with protection for specific types of protest or advocacy.
Does not restrict individual academic engagement. , allowing employees to attend events of boycotting organizations at their own or other non-state expense and prohibiting colleges from using such attendance in employment decisions, which maintains some academic freedom and personal choice for faculty and staff.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Funding for Boycotting Groups
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 25
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Ban State Funds for Boycotts
In Senate Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Sam Sutton
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
256
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. ROZIC, HYNDMAN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to prohibit the use of state aid by colleges and universities for certain academic institutions
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature hereby finds that it is beneficial to students of this state to have access to an education that is not bound by borders and to have the opportunity to obtain a global education. The legislature further finds that it is important that New York state undertake efforts to ensure that its students succeed in a world that is continually becoming more interdependent and diverse and further that students have access to international higher education institutions. A global education allows students to connect, compete and cooperate with their peers around the world. Therefore it is the policy of the state that colleges not use state funds to support boycotts of countries, or higher education institutions located in countries, that host higher education institutions chartered by the board of regents of the university of the state of New York.
§ 2. 1. For purposes of this section the following shall apply:
(a) the term "academic entity" shall mean any organization comprising colleges, universities or professors that promotes or supports academia in the United States and abroad.
(b) the term "college" shall have the same meaning as such term is defined in subdivision 2 of section 2 of the education law.
(c) the term "host country" shall mean those countries that host a higher education institution chartered by the board of regents of the university of the state of New York.
2. No college in this state may use state aid provided directly to such college to: fund an academic entity, provide funds for membership
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01395-01-5
in an academic entity or fund travel or lodging for any employee to attend any meeting of such academic entity if such entity has issued a public resolution or other official statement or undertaken an official action boycotting a host country or higher education institutions located in such country.
3. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no college shall be eligible for state aid during the academic year that such college is in violation of subdivision two of this section.
4. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any college:
(a) when such college is located in a country that is determined by the United States secretary of state to be a state sponsor of terrorism;
(b) when such boycott is connected with a labor dispute; or
(c) when such boycott is for the purpose of protesting unlawful discriminatory practices as determined by the laws, rules or regulations of this state.
5. Nothing in this section shall limit the attendance by any employee of a college at any event of an academic entity that boycotts a host country or higher education institutions located in such country and attendance at meetings of any such entity shall not be used by the college with regard to employment decisions.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.