CROWN Act of 2025

The Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act of 2025, or the CROWN Act of 2025, seeks to prohibit discrimination based on an individual's hair texture or style. This legislation specifically targets hair textures and styles commonly associated with a particular race or national origin, such as locs, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots, and Afros . Its primary purpose is to establish clear definitions of race and national origin within federal civil rights laws to ensure comprehensive protection against such discrimination. The bill addresses discrimination in several key areas. It prohibits discrimination based on hair texture or style in federally assisted programs , enforcing these provisions similarly to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Furthermore, it extends these protections to housing programs , aligning enforcement with the Fair Housing Act, and to public accommodations , mirroring Title II of the Civil Rights Act. Crucially, the CROWN Act also makes it an unlawful employment practice to discriminate against individuals based on their hair texture or style, with enforcement mechanisms similar to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It also reinforces equal rights under the law by prohibiting such discrimination under Section 1977 of the Revised Statutes. The legislation emphasizes that these provisions are intended to prevent negative biases and stereotypes related to race or national origin from impacting educational, employment, and other opportunities.