Federal schools get clearer tool to fight antisemitic discrimination

What it does

This bill directs the Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism when investigating discrimination complaints under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. It clarifies that discrimination against Jews based on shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics can violate federal civil rights law, and instructs the Education Department to consider antisemitic intent when reviewing such complaints. The bill does not expand the Department's authority or alter existing legal standards.

Why we flagged it

The bill's operative mechanism is instructional and definitional—it directs a federal agency to use an existing international standard when enforcing existing civil rights law. It does not create new rights, expand authority, or alter legal standards; it clarifies how existing protections apply to antisemitic discrimination.

What the text implies

• The bill's reliance on the IHRA definition may affect how universities and schools interpret student speech and campus conduct policies, potentially influencing disciplinary decisions in ways that depend on how the definition is applied in practice.
• By instructing the Education Department to consider antisemitic intent, the bill may increase the number of Title VI investigations into campus speech and conduct, which could have downstream effects on institutional policies and student conduct codes.
• The bill's explicit reference to 'contemporary examples of antisemitism' in the IHRA definition incorporates examples that include certain criticisms of Israel, which may create tension with First Amendment protections and could affect how universities balance free speech and anti-discrimination enforcement.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

Jewish students and families gain a clearer, more consistent federal enforcement standard against antisemitic discrimination in schools receiving federal funds. The bill does not expand the Department's authority, alter legal standards, or restrict First Amendment rights—it provides a shared definition to improve identification and enforcement of existing civil rights protections.

Named in the bill

Department of Education, International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 13899, White House National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism (May 25, 2023), Department of State

Where it stands

47 cosponsors: 27 Republicans, 20 Democrats.

• Feb 13, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in Senate”
• Feb 13, 2025 — Referred to Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions · Congress.gov: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S973-974)”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

11 lobbying clients named this bill on 16 disclosure filings across 3 quarters, Jun 2025 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $2,055,737 in lobbying spend. A filing names 32 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 92% of bills with at least one filing.

Tim Scott, the sponsor, reported $214,300 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.

• Anti-defamation League — $590,000 on 2 filings
• J Street — $340,000 on 2 filings
• Service Employees International Union Ctw-clc — $290,000 on 1 filing
• Christians United for Israel Action Fund — $269,705 on 2 filings
• Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, Inc. — $120,000 on 2 filings

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 20, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.