A group of Maine lawmakers are pushing a bill to require the state pension system to divest from weapons manufacturers associated with countries that have committed human rights violations.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Rafael Macias, D-Topsham, was inspired by Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, though it would apply to any country. At a hearing Wednesday, he called out Israel’s apparent use of cluster munitions, white phosphorous and suicide drones against civilians in violation of international law.

“We are paying for this,” Macias said. “We may not be pulling the trigger, but we are literally financing the bullet.”

Lawmakers on the State and Local Government Committee heard hours of impassioned testimony from supporters and detractors on Wednesday. The committee took no action on the bill.

Supporters argued that divesting from these companies is a moral imperative, and is financially sound. Opponents worried that the bill would lead to antisemitic attacks.

Nick Fuller Googins, a teacher who serves on the Maine Public Employees Retirement System board of trustees, said the state teachers union supports the divestment effort, which would affect less than 1% of the trust’s investments.

One of those teachers was Mary Dunn, who receives a pension after teaching for three decades.

“When I learned part of my monthly pension comes from investments in companies that are complicit in domestic and international human rights abuses, I felt sick,” Dunn said. “There are no financial or moral benefits to investing in these companies.”

But some Jewish residents worried that the bill would lead to antisemitic attacks.

At least two municipalities — Portland and Belfast — passed divestment resolutions as the Israel-Hamas war raged in Gaza in 2024. Portland Mayor Mark Dion apologized for supporting such a resolution in Maine’s largest city after hearing concerns from the Jewish community.

Beth Katz said schoolchildren have experienced increased bullying after Portland passed the resolution, which she noted had no impact on Israel. She said her family has witnessed an increase in antisemitic graffiti throughout town.

“I’m not here speaking on behalf of Jews or Israel,” Katz said. “I don’t want to see any Mainer have to go through this, whether they are Somali, or Venezuelan, or Iraqi, or Lebanese, or Italian, or are from any other extraction. I just want us all to be Mainers.”

As amended, LD 1383 would require the state retirement system to divest from any arms manufacturer that “contributes to genocide” by Jan. 1, 2029.

Those manufacturers are defined as those:

• Deriving more than 10% of their gross revenue from weapons, ammunition or military surveillance
• Providing logistical or tactical support to a government or non-state actor credibly accused of genocide, ethnic cleansing or other “gross violations” of human rights
  or
• Identified in reports of abuses by the United Nations or a credible third-party, such as Human Rights Watch or Amnesty International.

A United Nations commission determined that Israel committed war crimes and crimes against humanity for targeting medical personnel and facilities in its military response to Hamas’ October 2023 terror attack.

The original bill was broader. It prohibited the state from investing in or contracting with entities that operate in a state, country or governing body that has committed human rights violations.