The CROWN Act in 2026: Where Hair Discrimination Laws Stand
Seven years after California became the first state to ban discrimination based on hair texture and protective styles, about 30 states have passed some version of the CROWN Act. A federal version is still stuck in Congress. Here is where the law stands in October 2026, and what it means for the people who wear braids and the people who install them.
What the CROWN Act is
CROWN stands for "Create a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair." California's version, Senate Bill 188, was written by Sen. Holly Mitchell of Los Angeles, passed both chambers unanimously, and was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on July 3, 2019. It took effect January 1, 2020.
The law does not create a new protected class. Instead, it clarifies that race discrimination under California's Fair Employment and Housing Act and the Education Code includes discrimination based on traits tied to race, such as:
- Hair texture
- Protective hairstyles, including braids, locs and twists
How many states have one now
As of August 6, 2026, the Economic Policy Institute counts 30 states that have enacted some version of the CROWN Act. Counts vary by source and method. EPI includes limited versions, while the CROWN Coalition's own timeline listed 24 states as of March 2026. Either way, the map has grown steadily since 2019.
Recent additions include:
- New Hampshire (signed July 3, 2024; effective September 1, 2024), which defines protective hairstyles to include braids, locs, cornrows, Bantu knots, Afros, twists and head wraps.
- Rhode Island (H 5841 and S 519, passed June 20, 2025; signed by Gov. Dan McKee July 1, 2025), which adds hair texture and protective hairstyles to the state's definition of race.
- Pennsylvania (HB 439, signed by Gov. Josh Shapiro on November 25, 2025; effective January 24, 2026), which amends the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. It still allows valid health and safety policies.
Some cities have acted where their states have not. EPI notes local CROWN laws in Charlotte, North Carolina; Columbus, Ohio; and Miami Beach, Florida. None of the sources reviewed for this article reported a state repealing its CROWN Act.
The courts: the Darryl George case
The most watched case tested how far a state law reaches. In 2023, Darryl George, a Black junior at Barbers Hill High School in Texas, was placed in in-school suspension because the district said his locs, if let down, would fall below its length limit. Texas's CROWN Act had taken effect that September.
- In February 2024, a Texas judge ruled the state law did not cover hair length, according to NPR.
- In 2024, a federal judge dismissed most of George's claims but let a sex discrimination claim proceed.
- On July 24, 2025, the federal case was dismissed in the district's favor and permanently closed, KPRC reported.
The takeaway for readers: a CROWN law protects texture and style, but courts may read it narrowly on questions such as length.
The federal bill
A national CROWN Act would cover federally funded programs, housing, public accommodations and employment. Congress has come close before:
- The House passed H.R. 5309 by voice vote on September 21, 2020. The Senate did not act.
- The House passed H.R. 2116 on March 18, 2022, by a vote of 235 to 189. In December 2022, Sen. Rand Paul blocked it in the Senate, and it never got a vote.
- In the current 119th Congress, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) introduced H.R. 1638 and Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced S. 751, both on February 26, 2025. As of the latest records reviewed, both bills sit in committee and have not received a vote.
What each side argues. Watson Coleman has called hair discrimination "an extension of racism," and Collins has framed the bill as a matter of basic fairness. Opponents say it is unnecessary. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) argued that federal law already bans race discrimination, and Paul raised concerns that it could conflict with workplace safety gear requirements. Supporters respond that race-neutral grooming rules can still penalize natural hair.
California's follow-up law
On September 26, 2024, Newsom signed AB 1815 by Assemblymember Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa). It made three main changes:
- It removed the word "historically," so a trait now only has to be "associated with race" to be protected.
- It applies the same definitions to the Unruh Civil Rights Act, which covers businesses that serve the public.
- It extends protection to youth and amateur sports outside school, such as club teams, camps and training programs, according to the bill's author.
The bill grew out of a recommendation from California's 2023 reparations task force.
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 2019 | California signs SB 188 on July 3, the first state CROWN Act. |
| 2020 | California law takes effect January 1. U.S. House passes H.R. 5309 on September 21. |
| 2022 | U.S. House passes H.R. 2116, 235 to 189, on March 18. It stalls in the Senate. |
| 2023 | Texas CROWN Act takes effect in September. |
| 2024 | New Hampshire signs its law July 3. California signs AB 1815 on September 26. |
| 2025 | H.R. 1638 and S. 751 introduced February 26. Rhode Island signs July 1. Darryl George federal case dismissed July 24. Pennsylvania signs HB 439 November 25. |
| 2026 | Pennsylvania law takes effect January 24. EPI counts 30 states as of August 6. |
What it means in practice in California
- Employees and job seekers: Employers with five or more workers cannot refuse to hire, promote or keep you because of braids, locs or twists, and cannot require you to straighten or relax your hair. They must also address hair-based harassment from supervisors, coworkers or customers.
- Students: Schools may not discipline or exclude students over hair texture or protective styles.
- Athletes: Since AB 1815, club and amateur sports organizations are covered too.
- Clients: Businesses that serve the public fall under the Unruh Act, which now uses the same hair definitions.
- Braiders and stylists: If you work for a salon, you have the same employee protections. If you own the business, the Unruh Act applies to how you treat clients.
How to report discrimination in California
The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) takes complaints. Legal Aid at Work advises filing within three years of the incident and keeping texts, emails and notes on who, what, where and when.
- Online through the California Civil Rights System (CCRS) portal at calcivilrights.ca.gov, which CRD calls the fastest option.
- By phone at 800-884-1684, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Relay users can dial 711.
- By email at contact.center@calcivilrights.ca.gov, by mail, or in person at a CRD office. Intake forms come in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog and Punjabi.
- For free legal guidance, Legal Aid at Work can be reached at 415-864-8848.
THE BRAIDINGFEST ANGLE
In California, braids are legally protected at work, at school and on the field, and the people who create them deserve the same respect as the styles themselves.
- Braids, locs and twists are professional. California law says so.
- Know your rights and share the CRD reporting steps with clients who face pushback.
- BraidingFest celebrates the artists behind the styles at She Braids on Nov 22.
This is a summary of the law, not legal advice.
Sources: Thirty states have passed a version of the CROWN Act, Economic Policy Institute · CROWN Act Timeline, crown.ngo · CROWN Act (California), Wikipedia · CROWN Act of 2022, Wikipedia · H.R. 1638 bill text, Congress.gov · S. 751, LegiScan · H.R. 1638, LegiScan · Congress reignites a bipartisan effort to ban hair discrimination, NPR · Governor Shapiro Signs CROWN Act Into Law, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania · CROWN Act bans hair-based discrimination in Pennsylvania, WITF · CROWN Act passes General Assembly, Rhode Island Legislature · Rhode Island Expands Definition of Race, Vensure · New Hampshire is 26th State to Ban Hair Bias at Work, HR Morning · Federal judge dismisses hair discrimination case against Barbers Hill ISD, KPRC · AB 1815 Amendments to the CROWN Act Signed, Jackson Lewis · Weber Announces Legislation Expanding the CROWN Act, Assembly District 79 · New California Measure Expands CROWN Act, Davis Vanguard · Weber announces 12 bills signed by the Governor, Assembly District 79 · Hair Discrimination fact sheet, Legal Aid at Work · How to File a Complaint, California Civil Rights Department
Have you or a client ever been told your braids or locs were 'unprofessional'? How was it handled?
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