Compare Bills

Primary Sponsor

Last Action

Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House2025-02-24

Vote Breakdown

No floor votes recorded.

Plain Language Summary

This bill, known as the CROWN Act (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair), expands North Carolina's employment discrimination protections to explicitly include hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles like braids, locks, and twists as protected characteristics under race discrimination law. The bill adds these protections to the state's existing anti-discrimination statute and ensures employees cannot be fired or denied employment based on natural hairstyles.

Arguments in Favor

• •Supporters argue this bill addresses real workplace discrimination that Black employees and others with textured hair face when employers enforce grooming codes that effectively target natural hairstyles.
• •They contend the law clarifies that race discrimination includes traits historically associated with race, removes barriers to employment and advancement, and brings North Carolina in line with other states and cities that have adopted similar CROWN Act protections.

Arguments Against

• •Opponents may argue that employers should retain flexibility in setting professional appearance standards and that existing general race discrimination laws already provide sufficient protection without explicitly naming specific hairstyles.
• •Some contend the bill could create litigation challenges by defining protected characteristics in ways that are difficult to apply consistently, or that it inappropriately limits employers' ability to maintain workplace dress codes.