COLUMBUS, Ohio — Lawmakers are considering legislation to crack down on hate crimes and antisemitism on college campuses statewide. House Bill 606 is one proposal expected to get a vote in the House Finance Committee this week.

What You Need To Know

  • House Bill 606 is still being discussed in committee

  • The proposal could be up for a possible vote this week 

  • The bill is being met with mixed reviews with some citing vague language being a problem for interpretation 

State Rep. Justin Pizzulli is sponsoring the “CAMPUS Act,” which calls on the state’s chancellor of education to create a committee to stop antisemitism and other forms of hate.

“This bill standardizes procedures for reporting and investigating certain incidences,” Pizzulli said. “But what this bill does is introduce a one-time campus security and safety grant program to ensure that no student or organization has to fear for their safety.”

The bill, which was introduced in the wake of the anti-Israel protests that took place on campuses across the state during the spring, is garnering mixed reactions.

“It’s been a very emotionally draining period,” said Eliana Goldner, a Jewish student at Ohio State University. “I went from feeling very welcomed and embraced for my differences on my campus to now feeling like I have to hide a part of myself.” 

Goldner said she knows people who were impacted by antisemitic incidents and believes this proposal could be a step in the right direction. She also calls this proposal a way for people to start conversations around hate crimes and antisemitic incidents.

“There needs to be rules and procedures,” Goldner said. “Investigations for incidents put in place and to make sure that universities and the administration of these universities know how to handle these incidents.” 

However, Jineen Musa, also a student at Ohio State University, said any type of violence against anyone at college campuses should be condemned no matter what faith or ethnicity they follow. 

“When you look at the language, it talks about a partnership between law enforcement and student discipline,” Musa said. “We’re seeing nationally that students are being targeted with bills like this that are very vague.”

She fears these bills could target Muslim students and pro-Palestinian supporters. 

Alex Kempler, a Jewish graduate student at Ohio State University and a leader of the group “Jewish Voice for Peace," also opposes House Bill 606. Kempler believes the bill might infringe on some people’s First Amendment Rights.  

“I do feel like the vagueness can easily lead to a conflation of antisemitism with antizionism,” Kempler said. “What that allows for is repression of any kind of speech against Israel, regardless of your identity, whether you’re Jewish, myself, or whether you just want to speak up for human rights.” 

The “CAMPUS Act” is set for a committee vote this week while Senate Bill 83 remains in limbo at the Ohio Statehouse. The bill that passed the Senate more than a year ago would promote free speech protections on campuses and put an end to mandatory diversity, equity and inclusion trainings. State Sen. Jerry Cirino said the two bills do not contradict each other.