The CROWN Act in 2026: Which States Protect Natural Hairstyles and What It Means at Work and School

Quick answer (as of September 17, 2026)

  • Federal law: There is still no federal CROWN Act. The 2025 bills (H.R. 1638 and S. 751) were sent to committee in February 2025, and neither has received a vote.
  • States: 30 states have some version of the law, plus Washington, D.C. That's 27 full laws, one executive order (Arizona), and two limited laws (Kentucky and Missouri).
  • Newest full laws: Pennsylvania (in effect January 24, 2026) and Rhode Island (2025).
  • Limits: These laws protect hair texture and protective styles like locs, braids, twists and Bantu knots. Courts have not always read them as covering hair length rules.

This article is general information, not legal advice. If you think you've faced discrimination, talk to an employment or civil rights attorney or your state civil rights agency.

What the CROWN Act actually does

CROWN stands for "Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair." The idea is simple. Existing civil rights laws already ban race discrimination, and CROWN laws spell out that "race" includes traits linked to race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles.

Pennsylvania's 2025 law is a good example of the wording. It defines race to include "traits historically associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles such as locs, braids, twists, coils, Bantu knots, afros, and extensions" (Jackson Lewis).

Depending on the state, the law can cover:

  • Employment: hiring, firing, promotions, dress and grooming codes
  • Schools: dress codes, discipline, activities
  • Housing and public accommodations in some states

Coverage varies a lot. Missouri's 2025 law only covers state-funded schools and colleges. Kentucky's version covers public service only.

Federal status: stuck in committee

The federal bill has a long history of getting close:

  • September 2020: The House passed it by voice vote. The Senate never voted.
  • March 18, 2022: The House passed it 235–189 (legislative history). It stalled in the Senate, and Sen. Rand Paul blocked it in December 2022.
  • February 26, 2025: Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman introduced the CROWN Act of 2025 (H.R. 1638) with 75 original cosponsors. It went to the House Judiciary and Education and Workforce committees, and that referral is the last recorded action (GovInfo bill status). Sen. Cory Booker introduced the Senate version, S. 751.

As of September 2026, we found no committee vote or floor action on either bill. The current Congress ends in January 2027, and unpassed bills die then.

Which states have CROWN laws (as of September 2026)

This list is based on the Economic Policy Institute's August 6, 2026 tally. It matches the Official CROWN Act site's count of 30.

Full state laws (27)

State Year State Year
Alaska 2022 Nebraska 2021
Arkansas 2023 Nevada 2021
California 2019 New Hampshire 2024
Colorado 2020 New Jersey 2019
Connecticut 2021 New Mexico 2021
Delaware 2021 New York 2019
Illinois 2022 Oregon 2021
Louisiana 2022 Pennsylvania 2025
Maine 2022 Rhode Island 2025
Maryland 2020 Tennessee 2022
Massachusetts 2022 Texas 2023
Michigan 2023 Vermont 2024
Minnesota 2023 Virginia 2020
Washington 2020

Executive order or limited versions (3)

  • Arizona (2023): executive order
  • Kentucky (2024): limited to public service (sources differ on whether it was an executive order)
  • Missouri (2025): education only. Signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe on July 9, 2025, it bars state-funded schools from restricting natural hairstyles "commonly associated with a particular race or origin." Safety rules like hair nets are still allowed (Missouri Independent).

Plus Washington, D.C.

States without a statewide CROWN law

By our count from the list above, these states have no statewide law: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. Bills can pass quickly, so check your state legislature's site before relying on this.

Recent additions in detail

Pennsylvania: Gov. Josh Shapiro signed House Bill 439 on November 25, 2025, and it took effect January 24, 2026. For employment, it applies to employers with at least four workers in the state, and it also protects religious head coverings (Jackson Lewis).

Rhode Island: In its 2025 session, the General Assembly expanded the definition of race to include "traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles" (RI News Today).

City ordinances fill some gaps

Some cities acted before their states did. EPI names Charlotte, NC; Columbus, OH; and Miami Beach, FL as having local CROWN laws. Pittsburgh and St. Louis passed ordinances years before Pennsylvania and Missouri acted. Kansas City passed its own in 2020 (PBS NewsHour). One compliance vendor says more than 50 cities have ordinances. We couldn't independently confirm that number.

If you live in a state without a law, check your city or county human rights ordinance.

Why these laws exist: the data

The most-cited research comes from Dove, which co-founded the CROWN Coalition. Keep in mind these are brand-commissioned surveys with self-reported answers.

The CROWN 2023 Workplace Research Study surveyed 2,990 women, 1,039 of them Black, between December 2022 and January 2023. It found:

  • Black women's hair was 2.5 times as likely to be seen as unprofessional
  • 66% of Black women changed their hair for a job interview, and 41% went from curly to straight
  • More than 20% of Black women ages 25–34 had been sent home from work because of their hair
  • About 1 in 4 believed they'd been denied a job interview because of their hair

Dove's research on children reports that 53% of Black mothers say their daughters faced hair discrimination as early as age 5 (Dove).

At school: the Barbers Hill case shows the limits

The best-known test of a CROWN law came from Texas. In 2023, Barbers Hill ISD suspended high school student Darryl George over the length of his locs. He spent most of his junior year in in-school suspension.

  • In February 2024, a Texas state court sided with the district. The ruling found that the Texas CROWN Act did not address hair length, and some lawmakers said they would amend the law (Houston Public Media).
  • In a separate federal lawsuit, most claims were dismissed in 2024. The rest were dismissed on July 24, 2025, and the case cannot be refiled (KPRC).

Takeaway: The exact wording of a CROWN law matters. A rule about texture or style is clearly covered. A rule written around length or "neatness" may be challenged differently, and results can vary.

What it means for you

If you're an employee or job seeker

  • Look up whether your state or city has a CROWN law. If not, federal race-discrimination law (Title VII) still applies, but courts have been mixed on hair claims without explicit protection.
  • Keep copies of dress codes, emails and any written comments about your hair.
  • A safety rule (like a hair net or tying hair back near machinery) is usually allowed if it applies to everyone.

If you're a parent or student

  • Read the school's dress code for rules on hairstyles, length or "extreme" styles.
  • In states with education coverage, raise concerns in writing with the school and district first.

If you're a salon owner, stylist or barber

  • Your own workplace policies fall under these laws in covered states. Review appearance standards for front-desk staff, assistants and stylists.
  • Clients come to you for these styles. Being able to do locs, braids, silk presses and twist-outs is good business, and in several states it's becoming part of required training (see our post on textured-hair education laws).

Checklist: questions to ask about a hair policy

  1. Does the policy name specific styles, like locs, braids, afros or "unnatural" styles?
  2. Does it apply equally to all races and genders?
  3. Is there a real safety reason, and is it the least restrictive option?
  4. Does your state or city have a CROWN law, and does it cover this setting (work, school, housing)?
  5. Who can you contact? Your state civil rights agency, the EEOC, or a lawyer.

What we don't know yet

  • Whether Texas changed its CROWN Act after the Barbers Hill ruling. We couldn't confirm it.
  • Rhode Island's bill number and effective date, and exactly how Kentucky's version was put in place.
  • The exact number of city ordinances.
  • Whether Congress will act before January 2027. No action is recorded.

FAQ

Is there a federal CROWN Act in 2026? No. The CROWN Act of 2025 (H.R. 1638 / S. 751) was introduced in February 2025, and as of September 2026 neither chamber has voted on it.

How many states have passed the CROWN Act? 30 states have some version as of August 2026: 27 full laws, Arizona's executive order, and limited laws in Kentucky and Missouri. Washington, D.C. also has one.

Does the CROWN Act cover hair length? Not clearly. In the Texas Barbers Hill case, a state court found the Texas law didn't address length. Wording differs by state.

Can an employer still require hair to be tied back for safety? Generally yes, if the rule is truly safety-based and applies to everyone. Missouri's education law, for example, explicitly allows hair nets.

Does the CROWN Act protect wigs and extensions? Several state laws, including Pennsylvania's, list extensions as a protected style. Check your state's text.

Sources