HB 1446

This bill enacts the "Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act, which generally prohibits a department, division, office, board, commission, or institution of this state (""state agency"") from (i) using the term ""West Bank"" to refer to Judea and Samaria in a gui dance, rule, material, briefing, press release, communication, or work product document prepared by a state agency and (ii) using state funds to create official government material that refers to Judea and Samaria as ""West Bank."" However, this bill authorizes the executive head of a state agency to waive the prohibition if the executive head (i) determines that it is in the interest of this state to do so and (ii) submits a written explanation of the waiver no later than 30 days after the date on which the executive head makes such a determination to each member of the general assembly if the general assembly is in session, or to the speaker of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives if the general assembly is no t in session. ON MARCH 9, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 1446, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 makes the following changes:  Clarifies that a state agency is only authorized to use the term ""West Bank"" in official government material when in reference to a communication issued by a federal agency.  Removes the authorization for the executive head of a state agency to waive the prohibition on the use of the term ""West Bank"" in official government materials.  Clarifies that the bill must not be construed to (i) infringe on the rights of freedom of speech protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution; (ii) apply to or restrict lecture content, classroom remarks, scholarly articles, research publications, or other expressive academic work of faculty at public institutions of higher education; or (iii) compel or require an individual to use the terminology specified in this bill as amended as an endorsement of a particular viewpoint or ideology. However, the bill does apply to written records or materials prepared by state employees acting in their official capacities for administrative or institutional purposes, including course descriptions, catalogs, institutional publications, and other official or administrative materials."