H.R. 1638 — CROWN Act of 2025

This section sets forth congressional findings recognizing that discrimination on the basis of hair texture and hairstyles (e.g., locs, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots, Afros) commonly associated with people of African descent constitutes racial and national origin discrimination under federal civil rights laws, including 42 U.S.C. 1981 (which provides all persons the same contractual rights as white citizens). It expresses the sense of Congress that federal law must prohibit and remedy such discrimination in schools, workplaces, housing, and other contexts and states the Act's purpose of defining race and national origin in federal civil rights laws to include hair texture and protective hairstyles.

This section prohibits exclusion from participation in, denial of benefits of, or discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance based on an individual's hair texture or hairstyle commonly associated with a particular race or national origin (e.g., tightly coiled or curled hair, locs, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots, Afros). It provides for enforcement in the same manner as title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (i.e., as if violations were of that title's prohibition on race, color, or national origin discrimination).

This section prohibits discriminatory housing practices under the Fair Housing Act based on a person's hair texture or hairstyle commonly associated with a particular race or national origin (e.g., tightly coiled or tightly curled hair, locs, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots, Afros). Violations are enforced in the same manner as other discriminatory housing practices under the Fair Housing Act.

This section prohibits discrimination in public accommodations—such as hotels, restaurants, and theaters under Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964—on the basis of a person's hair texture or hairstyle commonly associated with a particular race or national origin (e.g., tightly coiled or tightly curled hair, locs, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots, Afros). It provides for enforcement in the same manner as existing Title II prohibitions, with race and national origin defined as in section 201 of that Act (42 U.S.C. 2000a).

This section prohibits employers, employment agencies, labor organizations, and joint labor-management committees (including those controlling apprenticeship or training programs) from discriminating in hiring, discharge, or other employment practices based on an individual's hair texture or hairstyle commonly associated with a particular race or national origin (e.g., tightly coiled or tightly curled hair, locs, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots, and Afros). The prohibition is enforceable in the same manner as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (i.e., violations are treated as violations of 42 U.S.C. 2000e-2 or 2000e-3).

This section prohibits discrimination prohibited under 42 U.S.C. 1981 (i.e., racial discrimination in making and enforcing contracts) based on a person's hair texture or hairstyle commonly associated with a particular race or national origin (e.g., tightly coiled or tightly curled hair, locs, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots, Afros). Subsection (b) provides for enforcement of this prohibition in the same manner and by the same means as 42 U.S.C. 1981.

This section provides a rule of construction clarifying that nothing in the Act limits definitions of race or national origin under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Act, or 42 U.S.C. 1981 (i.e., Section 1977 of the Revised Statutes, which guarantees all persons the same right to make and enforce contracts as enjoyed by white citizens).