This bill, called the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act of 2025 (CROWN Act of 2025), would make it illegal to discriminate against people because of their hair texture or hairstyles when those textures or styles are commonly associated with a particular race or national origin. The bill lists examples such as tightly coiled or tightly curled hair, locs, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots, and Afros. It applies to federally assisted programs, housing, public places, employment, and rights under 42 U.S.C. 1981. For each area, the bill says violations should be enforced in the same way and by the same courts and agencies that enforce existing federal civil rights laws (for example, the parts of the Civil Rights Act and the Fair Housing Act that cover race and national origin).
No publicly available information.
According to the bill text, supporters say that hair texture and style have been used to classify people by race and national origin and that people of African descent have lost school, work, and housing opportunities because of natural or protective hairstyles. The bill cites past examples of discriminatory grooming policies and says some courts have narrowly interpreted existing civil rights laws, leaving gaps in protection. Proponents argue a clear federal standard is needed to prevent decisions and policies that reflect racial or national origin bias about hair.
No publicly available information.