To prohibit discrimination based on an individual’s texture or style of hair.
Analysis under review: This bill has generated analysis that may be too generic or incomplete. Clause-level evidence remains available below.
Summary
What This Bill Does
The CROWN Act of 2025 expands federal civil rights laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on hair texture and hairstyles commonly associated with race or national origin. This includes natural and protective hairstyles such as locs, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots, and Afros. The bill addresses a gap in federal law where some courts have allowed employers and institutions to discriminate against people, particularly those of African descent, based on their natural hair.
Who Benefits and How
People of African descent and others who wear natural or protective hairstyles benefit by receiving explicit federal protection against discrimination in employment, housing, federally funded programs, and public accommodations. Workers can no longer be legally fired, refused employment, or denied promotions based on wearing natural hairstyles. Students gain protection from discriminatory grooming policies at schools receiving federal funding.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Employers, landlords, businesses open to the public, and federally funded institutions face new legal obligations to not discriminate based on hair texture or hairstyle. They may need to revise grooming policies and dress codes that disproportionately impact people of African descent. Violators face enforcement actions under existing civil rights frameworks with the same penalties as other forms of race discrimination.
Key Provisions
- Extends civil rights protections to cover discrimination based on hair texture and hairstyles associated with race or national origin
- Applies protections across federally assisted programs, housing, public accommodations, and employment
- Defines protected hairstyles to include locs, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots, and Afros
- Enforces through existing civil rights enforcement mechanisms (Title VI, Title VII, Fair Housing Act, etc.)
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Prohibits discrimination based on hair texture or hairstyle that is commonly associated with a particular race or national origin, expanding federal civil rights protections to cover natural and protective hairstyles.
Key Policy Areas
Civil Rights, Employment, Housing, Education
Primary Purpose
Prohibits discrimination based on hair texture or hairstyle that is commonly associated with a particular race or national origin, expanding federal civil rights protections to cover natural and protective hairstyles.
Policy Domains
Section 4 - Housing Programs
Identified Gains
- Renters and homebuyers with natural hairstyles
Identified Costs
- Landlords
- Real estate professionals
- Housing providers
Section 2 - Findings; Sense of Congress; Purpose
Identified Gains
- People of African descent
- Workers with natural hairstyles
- Students with natural hairstyles
Section 6 - Employment
Identified Gains
- Workers with natural hairstyles
- Job applicants with natural hairstyles
Identified Costs
- Employers
- Employment agencies
- Labor organizations
Section 7 - Equal Rights Under the Law
Identified Gains
- Individuals seeking contracts and property rights
Identified Costs
- Contract parties
- Property sellers
Section 3 - Federally Assisted Programs
Identified Gains
- Students in federally funded schools
- Participants in federal programs
Identified Costs
- Schools receiving federal funding
- Institutions receiving federal funds
Section 5 - Public Accommodations
Identified Gains
- Consumers with natural hairstyles
Identified Costs
- Hotels and restaurants
- Retail businesses
- Entertainment venues
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMrs. Watson Coleman (for herself, Ms. Williams of Georgia, Ms. …
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Consumers and patrons with natural hairstyles, Individuals with natural hairstyles entering contracts, People of African descent with natural hairstyles
Landlords and property managers, Property sellers and lessors, Real estate agents and brokers
Hotels and lodging establishments, Restaurants and food service establishments
Organizations receiving federal financial assistance
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "congress"
- → United States Congress
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
Race within the meaning of the term in section 601 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d) and national origin within the meaning of the term in that section 601
Has the meaning given the term in section 606 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d-4a)
Has the meaning given the term in section 802 of the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3602)
Hairstyles in which hair is tightly coiled or tightly curled, locs, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots, and Afros
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology