Bill > HB322

This bill, known as the Create A Respectful And Open Workplace for Natural (CROWN) Hair Act, seeks to prohibit discrimination against individuals based on their natural hairstyles in workplaces and schools throughout Mississippi. The legislation recognizes that hairstyles such as afros, braids, twists, and locs are often closely associated with racial and ethnic identity, and that existing policies have historically disadvantaged people of color by penalizing their natural hair texture. The bill makes it unlawful for employers, schools, school districts, and administrators to create dress codes or policies that prohibit natural hairstyles, and prevents them from discriminating against employees or students by denying promotions, reducing wages, or disciplining individuals because of their hair. The law provides strong legal protections, allowing aggrieved individuals to file civil actions within two years of a discriminatory incident and potentially recover unpaid wages, compensatory and punitive damages, attorney's fees, and other equitable relief. The bill's underlying purpose is to promote fairness, equity, and opportunity by explicitly protecting individuals from hair-based discrimination and recognizing the cultural significance of natural hairstyles.

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https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB0322.xml