Gov. Greg Abbott today will sign the first major bill to be approved by the 2017 Texas Legislature, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
The measure, House Bill 89, is known as the 'Anti-BDS bill.'
The measure prohibits the State of Texas from investing in, or any state entities from contacting with or doing business with, any organization which participates in the Boycott Divestment Sanctions movement against Israel.
BDS, which is more popular in Europe than in the U.S. is a movement that pressures governments, corporations, and organizations like sports leagues to refuse to do business with Israel on the premise that a boycott will pressure Israel into stopping settlement construction in the disputed West Bank and encourage it to 'follow international law.'
But several groups say BDS is a trendy front for radical Islamists, as well as anti Semites and even anti Jewis neo-Nazi groups. Opposing BDS has become a rallying cry for Israel supporters.
The bill will be signed at the Austin Jewish Community Center.