Congressman Randy Fine warned the British government that Florida may boycott British businesses if the UK boycotts Israel.
This comes ahead of the UK’s expected announcement on Tuesday of a trade ban with Israeli settlements.
Fine referenced Florida’s “Prohibition against contracting with scrutinized companies” law, which rules that a company or other entity that is engaged in a boycott of Israel is generally ineligible to bid for or enter into certain contracts with Florida state or local government.
The law also requires companies seeking government contracts to certify that they are not participating in a boycott of Israel.
It would also end any British business participating in that boycott from doing any business in Florida if it needed any official interaction with state or local government to operate, such as in relation to permits or tax collection.
“Florida is one of Britain’s largest trading partners,” he said. “They should understand that their vanity project in support of Muslim terror could cost them billions of dollars.”
As an example for anyone who “doubts the power of this policy,” Fine cited the example of Airbnb’s plan to remove roughly 200 listings in Israeli settlements in the West Bank in 2018.
Florida subsequently placed Airbnb on its “Scrutinized Companies” list because of the policy.
Airbnb ultimately reversed the delisting policy in April 2019, following lawsuits.
“Florida has made it clear. Any company – or nation – that boycotts Israel is boycotted by Florida,” Fine said.
Nearly 40 US states have enacted anti-BDS laws
According to a 2026 academic survey by Indiana University law professor Joseph Tomain, 38 US states have enacted anti-BDS laws.
These laws generally condition access to state contracts, investments, or other government benefits on not participating in boycotts of Israel.
One of those states is Texas, which could enact similar boycotts to Florida according to its own legislative provisions.
Combined, Florida and Texas were worth roughly 15% more than the entire UK economy in 2025.
Texas has a GDP of around $2.9 trillion and Florida of roughly $1.7 trillion in nominal GDP.
The UK’s GDP was about $4.00 trillion in 2025.
Texas and Israel have a well-established investment relationship.
Israeli companies have invested $3.2 billion and created more than 4,200 jobs across Texas over the last decade. During that same time period, Texas companies reported seven investment projects into Israel, $178.6m. in capital investment, and more than 545 new jobs.
