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S. 170 115th Congress Senate

Combating BDS Act of 2017

Official title: A bill to provide for nonpreemption of measures by State and local governments to divest from entities that engage in commerce-related or investment-related bo… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to provide for nonpreemption of measures by State and local governments to divest from entities that engage in commerce-related or investment-related boycott, divestment, or sanctions activities targeting Israel, and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 23, 2017 See on congress.gov
Finance and Financial Sector Arab-Israeli relationsEmployee benefits and pensionsFinancial services and investmentsGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel management
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Government information and archivesIsraelMiddle EastSanctionsState and local financeState and local government operationsTrade restrictionsU.S. and foreign investments
This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 17, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Jan 17, 2017
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action January 17, 2017

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Combating BDS Act of 2017

This bill allows a state or local government to adopt and enforce measures to divest its assets from, prohibit investment of its assets in, or restrict contracting with: (1) an entity that engages in a commerce- or investment-related boycott, divestment, or sanctions activity targeting Israel; or (2) an entity that owns or controls, is owned or controlled by, or is under common ownership or control with such an entity. Such measures are not preempted by federal law. A state or local government that seeks to adopt or enforce such measures shall comply with specified requirements related to notice, timing, and opportunity for comment.

In addition, the bill amends the Investment Company Act of 1940 to prohibit a person from bringing any civil, criminal, or administrative action against a registered investment company based solely upon that company's divestment from securities issued by a person that engages in a commerce- or investment-related boycott, divestment, or sanctions activity targeting Israel.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 170: Combating BDS Act of 2017. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-170/
MLA
"S. 170: Combating BDS Act of 2017." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-170/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 170, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-170/.
Markdown link
[S. 170: Combating BDS Act of 2017](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-170/)
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