The CROWN Act Becomes Law In Texas, Banning Race-Based Hair Discrimination

Late Saturday evening, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed into law a bill prohibiting race-based hair discrimination in Texas workplaces, schools and housing policies. The new law also updated the state’s education, labor and property codes to outlaw discrimination based on certain hairstyles — including braids, dreadlocks and twists.

House Bill 567, also known as the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act, was authored and introduced by State Rep. Rhetta A. Bowers (D-Garland). The bill, more widely known as the CROWN Act, will take effect on September 1, 2023 after having sailed through both chambers of the legislature with overwhelming bipartisan support.