Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed into law on Friday AB 446, a measure incorporating the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism into state statute for use in evaluating discriminatory intent and enhanced criminal penalties.
Approved by the Wisconsin Senate two weeks ago and the State Assembly last month, the new legislation, now titled Wisconsin Act 143, formally defines antisemitism based on the IHRA framework, including its 11 illustrative examples.
“Each state agency and local governmental unit and each employee or official of this state or of a local governmental unit shall consider the definition of antisemitism adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance on May 26, 2016, including its examples, when evaluating evidence of discriminatory intent for any law, ordinance, or policy in this state that prohibits discrimination based on race, religion, color, or national origin or that provides for enhanced criminal penalties for criminal offenses when the defendant intentionally selects the victim or group of victims or selects the property that is damaged or otherwise affected by the crime because of the victim’s or group of victims’ actual or perceived race, religion, color, or national origin,” the law states.
The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) welcomed the move, describing it as a meaningful step in strengthening protections for Jewish communities across the state.
CAM Director of State Engagement David Soffer said, “Since policymakers chose clarity and consistency in the fight against antisemitism, Jewish Wisconsinites are safer today. AB 446 gives public institutions a common reference point to recognize anti-Jewish bias when it surfaces so responses can be timely, fair, and grounded in established standards.”
“AB 446 will help agencies and schools evaluate allegations responsibly and apply existing policies with greater precision, all while keeping First Amendment protections fully intact,” he noted.
“The enactment of this bill is a significant step forward in addressing rising Jew-hatred across Wisconsin and serves as an example to other policymakers throughout the United States,” Soffer added.
Soffer testified in favor of the legislation before both the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety and the Assembly Committee on State Affairs.
CAM also took part in a special antisemitism briefing for Wisconsin lawmakers and staff at the State Capitol in Madison last November. Speakers included CAM President of U.S. Affairs Alyza Lewin and Public Affairs Officer Natalie Sanandaji, alongside Soffer.
According to data compiled by the Antisemitism Research Center (ARC) at CAM, 37 U.S. states have adopted or endorsed the IHRA antisemitism definition, with 17 codifying it into law.
Over the past year, CAM has led a coordinated effort to engage and educate state legislators across the United States on antisemitism-related challenges and policy responses, including legislation such as Wisconsin’s.
Similar initiatives have been introduced in Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. Seven of those states — Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Nevada, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and now Wisconsin — have enacted new laws since April 2025.
In June 2025, lawmakers and executive officials from 17 states gathered in Kansas City, Missouri, for the first-ever CAM-organized State Leadership Summit on Antisemitism, underscoring growing nationwide momentum to adopt standardized definitions and strengthen responses to antisemitism.