The Minnesota State Senate passed the Crown Act Thursday morning.
The bill prohibits discrimination against a person for their hairstyle. The Minnesota House of Representatives passed the bill on Jan. 11.
The CROWN act has been presented to the legislature for the past 2 years. With its passage in the Senate, the Minnesota Human Rights Act will now include restricting hairstyles as a form of discrimination.
The bill adds protections for “traits associated with race, including but not limited to texture and hair styles such as braids, locs and twists.”
“We find that what is happening is, the various laws that are in place for equity and fairness, people are finding their way around it,” Rep. Esther Agjabe (DFL)said testifying in favor of the bill in committee last month. “What they’re using is this proxy of hair in order to continue discrimination.”
The bill is now headed to Gov. Walz desk; Walz has said he will sign it into law.