Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act

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Policy Status

  • Type: Model Policy
  • Status: Draft
  • Date Introduced: July 17, 2025

Task Forces

  • Federalism, Homeland Security and International Relations

    • Tags

  • 2025 Annual Meeting

    • Summary

    This model act recognizes Judea and Samaria, the historical names of the land controlled by Israel that is located south and north of Jerusalem respectively and prohibits state agencies from using the term “West Bank” in official government materials. 
    Draft

    Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act

    For An Act To Be Entitled: An Act to create the recognizing Judea and Samaria Act; to prohibit state agencies from using the term “west bank” in official government materials; and for other purposes. 

    Subtitle: To create the recognizing judea and samaria act; and to prohibit state agencies from using the term “west bank” in official government materials. 

    BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE [STATE]: 

    Section. [Code Title , Chapter ] is amended to add an additional subchapter to read as follows: 

    Subchapter — Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act 

    Legislative intent. 

    It is the intent of the General Assembly to: 

    Refer to the land controlled by Israel from Jordan during the Six-Day War by its historical name of “Judea and Samaria”, with the land south of Jerusalem being considered “Judea” and the land north of Jerusalem being considered “Samaria”; and No longer use the term “West Bank” in official government materials. 

    Prohibition on use of materials that use the term “West Bank” 

    Definitions. 

    (a) As used in this section: 

    • “Official government material” means a guidance, rule, material, briefing, press release, or communication prepared by a state agency; and 
    • “State agency” means every department, division, office, board, commission, and institution of this state. 

    (b)Except as provided under subsection (c) of this section, a state agency shall not use the term “West Bank” to refer to Judea and Samaria in an official government material. 

    • A state agency shall not use state moneys to create an official government material that refers to Judea and Samaria as “West Bank”. 

    (c) The executive head of a state agency may waive the prohibition under subsection (b) of this section if the executive head: 

    • Determines that it is in the interests of the state to do so; and 
    • Submits a written explanation of the waiver no later than thirty days after the date on which the executive head of the state agency makes a determination under subdivision (c) of this section to the: 
      • (A) General Assembly if the General Assembly is in session; or
      • (B) [Governing Body] if the General Assembly is not in session.