OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
Office of Research Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov and Drafting Office
H.B. 618 Bill Analysis
135th General Assembly
Click here for H.B. 618’s Fiscal Note
Version: As Introduced
Primary Sponsor: Rep. Schmidt
Effective date:
Paul Luzzi, Attorney
SUMMARY
 Requires a state agency to apply the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s
(IHRA) May 26, 2016, working definition of antisemitism when reviewing, investigating,
or deciding whether there has been a violation of any relevant policy, law, or regulation,
prohibiting discrimination based on anti-Semitic intent.
 Requires anti-discrimination and anti-bias training for state agency employees to use
the IHRA working definition of antisemitism as an educational tool to familiarize staff
and officials with antisemitism.
 Requires a court and any court-appointed authority to apply the same legal standard to
a claim alleging discrimination based on antisemitism, as defined by the IHRA, to similar
claims of discrimination arising under the Ohio Civil Rights Law.
DETAILED ANALYSIS
Definition of antisemitism in certain investigations, training
materials, and proceedings
Under the bill, when a state agency reviews, investigates, or decides whether there has
been a violation of any relevant policy, law, or regulation, the agency must consider the
working definition of antisemitism adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance
Alliance (IHRA) on May 26, 2016, to determine whether an alleged act was motivated by
discriminatory anti-Semitic intent.1 Currently, pursuant to an executive order, all state agencies,
1 R.C. 4112.01(A)(26) and 4112.20(B).
July 9, 2024
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
departments, boards, and commissions (including all public colleges and universities) must use
this definition, or an “appropriate alternative” definition, when taking these actions.2
The bill also requires anti-discrimination and anti-bias training for state agency
employees to use the IHRA working definition of antisemitism as an educational tool to
familiarize staff and officials with antisemitism.3
Under continuing law, a “state agency” is any organized body, office, or agency
established by law for the exercise of any function of state government.4 With respect to the
bill’s requirement that the IHRA working definition of antisemitism be applied to decide
whether an act was motivated by antisemitism, “state agency” also includes any entity
established by state law for the exercise of a quasigovernmental function, including all of the
following:
 A state institution of higher education;
 JobsOhio and any subsidiary;
 Any state retirement system or retirement program.5
Additionally, the bill requires any court or court-appointed authority to apply the same
legal standard to a claim alleging discrimination based on antisemitism, as defined by the IHRA,
to similar discrimination claims arising under the Ohio Civil Rights Law.6
IHRA definition of antisemitism
On May 26, 2016, the IHRA adopted the following working definition of antisemitism:
Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be
expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical
manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or
non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish
community institutions and religious facilities.
The bill adopts the IHRA definition and the following contemporary examples identified
by the IHRA:
 “Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical
ideology or an extremist view of religion.
2 Executive Order 2022-006D.
3 R.C. 124.92.
4 R.C. 1.60, not in the bill.
5 R.C. 4112.20(A), by reference to R.C. 187.01 and 3345.011, not in the bill.
6 R.C. 2701.21, by reference to R.C. Chapter 4112.
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As Introduced
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
 Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews
as such or the power of Jews as collective — such as, especially but not exclusively, the
myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy,
government or other societal institutions.
 Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing
committed by a single Jewish person or group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews.
 Denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g., gas chambers) or intentionality of the
genocide of the Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its
supporters and accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust).
 Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the
Holocaust.
 Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews
worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.
 Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the
existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.
 Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of
any other democratic nation.
 Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews
killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis.
 Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.
 Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.”7
Under the bill, the IHRA definition of antisemitism may not be construed to diminish or
infringe on any right protected by the first amendment to the U.S. or Ohio Constitution. It also
cannot be construed to conflict with any federal, state, or local antidiscrimination law.8
HISTORY
Action Date
Introduced 06-03-24
ANHB0618IN-135
7 R.C. 4112.01(A)(26) and IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism which may be
accessed by conducting a keyword “antisemitism definition” search on the IHRA website:
holocaustremembrance.com.
8 R.C. 4112.01(C).
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As Introduced


Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 4112.01