The Nebraska Legislature on Friday gave initial approval to legislation aimed at combating antisemitism in the state’s public education system, advancing a bill that would formally prohibit antisemitic discrimination in K–12 schools and institutions of higher education.
The bill, LB 538, was introduced by State Senator Brian Hardin and is supported by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM). It adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism, including its 11 contemporary examples, a definition Nebraska formally adopted in 2023.
Under the legislation, the Nebraska Department of Education would be required to implement policies explicitly prohibiting antisemitic discrimination. The bill also mandates that both the Commissioner of Education and the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education appoint Title VI coordinators to investigate complaints, attempt resolutions, and submit annual reports to the state legislature.
The measure advanced Friday on a unanimous 42–0 vote and now moves to the enrollment and review stage, followed by a final vote. If approved, it will be sent to Governor Jim Pillen for signature.
“LB 538 takes a firm and necessary stand against discrimination, including antisemitism, in our public schools and universities,” Hardin said during a previous Education Committee hearing. “This is not about one group or one issue. It’s about ensuring every student and educator can learn and work in an environment free from hatred, harassment, and prejudice.”
He added that antisemitism must be treated with the same seriousness as other forms of bigotry. “Just as we would not tolerate racism or sexism, we cannot turn a blind eye to antisemitism, which is too often ignored or dismissed,” Hardin said.
CAM Founder Adam Beren also testified in support of the bill, calling it a timely response to rising antisemitism nationwide.
“LB 538 is a critical step at a moment when Jewish students are facing unprecedented challenges,” Beren said. “Its passage would send a clear message that Nebraska is committed to confronting hatred and ensuring the safety and dignity of its Jewish community.”
According to data compiled by CAM’s Antisemitism Research Center, 37 U.S. states have now adopted the IHRA definition of antisemitism. Nebraska’s legislation is part of a broader nationwide push to strengthen legal tools addressing antisemitism in educational settings.
Over the past year, CAM has worked with lawmakers in multiple states to advance similar measures. Legislative initiatives have been introduced in Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, with six of those states enacting new laws since April 2025.
In June, state legislators and senior officials from 17 states convened in Kansas City for the first-ever CAM-organized State Leadership Summit on Antisemitism, aimed at coordinating policy responses and sharing best practices to combat rising antisemitic incidents nationwide.
If enacted, LB 538 would place Nebraska among a growing number of states taking formal legislative action to address antisemitism in schools and higher education institutions.