HB 435

 02-03 14:11  H.B. 435
1State Policy on Judea and Samaria
                                        2026 GENERAL SESSION
                                              STATE OF UTAH
                                   Chief Sponsor: Karianne Lisonbee
                                     Senate Sponsor: Keven J. Stratton
2
3   LONG TITLE
4   General Description:
5This bill establishes a state policy of referring to certain land controlled by Israel as Judea
6   and Samaria.
7   Highlighted Provisions:
8This bill:
9▸ defines terms;
10▸ makes it state policy to refer to the land, restored to Israel from Jordan during the 1967
11   Six-Day War, by the land's historical names of Judea and Samaria; and
12▸ prohibits a state agency or official government material from referring to the land
13   described in the preceding paragraph as "West Bank."
14   Money Appropriated in this Bill:
15None
16   Other Special Clauses:
17None
18   Utah Code Sections Affected:
19   ENACTS:
2063G-34-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
21
22   Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
23Section 1. Section 63G-34-101 is enacted to read:
                                                                                                            H.B. 435
24CHAPTER 34. State Policies and Requirements
2563G-34-101 . Reference to Judea and Samaria by a state agency.
26   (1) As used in this section:
27(a) "Official government material" means any material prepared or produced by a state
28agency, whether written, printed, electronic, or in another medium, including:
29(i) a rule;
30(ii) a press release;
 H.B. 435  02-03 14:11
31(iii) a communication;
32(iv) a briefing;
33(v) guidance; or
34(vi) a publication.
35      (b) "State agency" means a department, division, office, commission, or other institution
36of the state.
37  (2) It is the policy of the state to refer to the land restored to Israel from Jordan during the
38      1967 Six-Day War, by the land's historical names of Judea and Samaria, with the land s
39      outh of Jerusalem considered Judea and the land north of Jerusalem considered Samaria.
40  (3) A state agency may not use the term "West Bank," or use state funds to create official
41      government material that uses the term "West Bank," to refer to the land described in
42      Subsection (2).
43Section 2. Effective Date.
44  This bill takes effect on May 6, 2026.
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