Bill defining antisemitism heads to governor’s desk

CARSON CITY — A bill defining antisemitism for discrimination investigations will head to the governor’s desk following lawmakers’ last votes on the measure Monday night.

Senate Bill 179 defines the term for Nevada Equal Rights Commission investigations into discrimination in housing, employment and accommodations.

SB 179 — initially proposed to bill sponsor Sen. James Ohrenschall, D-Las Vegas, by Jewish Las Vegas teens Ethan Cohen and Meyer DeLee — faced some debate because of the definition used. Originally, the bill did not include the widely recognized definition made by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, which includes contemporary examples of antisemitic acts.

That was amended into the bill while it was in the Assembly. But it received an unusual vote of 28-4 with 10 members given excused absences. Sources previously told the Las Vegas Review-Journal there was some disagreement on the definition as well as concerns it could limit freedom of speech for people criticizing the state of Israel.

“Together, we proved that students can lead, ideas can become law, and we all have a role to play in the fight against antisemitism,” Cohen said in a statement.

Senators concurred on the Assembly’s amendment Monday, the last day of the 120-day legislative session. The bill now heads to Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo for approval.

The final vote comes a day after an attack in Boulder, Colorado, where a man used incendiary devices on demonstrators who were calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza, injuring 12 people. The FBI described the violence as a “targeted terror attack.”

On Monday morning, Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley called on legislators to pass SB 179.

“It is imperative that our state condemn this behavior that is occurring all too often in our country,” Berkley said in an X post.

Contact McKenna Ross at mross@reviewjournal.com. Follow @mckenna_ross_ on X.