JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As acts of antisemitism have been on the rise, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two bills on Monday.
One officially defines antisemitism in the state and received unanimous support in a typically divided legislature.
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“The term ‘antisemitism’ means a certain perception of Jewish individuals which may be expressed as hatred toward such individuals,” the measure reads, in part.
The bill will take effect July 1.
The other newly signed law clears the way for lawmakers to add security funding for Jewish schools into the state budget.
“We shouldn’t live in a world where we need these kinds of things but we do live in a world where unfortunately antisemitism is rampant,” lawmaker Randy Fine said.
Both bills are tied to the rise in anti-semitic incidents since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists.
Just last week, more than 50 bomb threats were sent to Florida Synagogues.
“It’s never good to be panicked and we have to be vigilant,” said Rabbi Yisroel Spalter of Chabad of Weston.
According to the Anti Defamation League, there were 463 antisemitic incidents last year in Florida.