Minnesota House Passes Bill to End “Hair Discrimination” in State

(St. Paul, MN)  —  The Minnesota House on a wide margin (111 to 19) passed the CROWN Act, which updates the definition of “race” in the state human rights law to include “traits associated with race, including but not limited to hair texture and hair styles such braids, locs, and twists.”  Chief author, Minneapolis Democrat Esther Agbaje says it’s time to end “hair discrimination” in Minnesota and her bill “will ensure Black Minnesotans have the right to show up to work as their authentic selves without the fear of being reprimanded due to the style of their hair.”   The bill now goes to the Minnesota Senate.  The House passed the bill twice before but it was not brought up in the Senate which was under Republican control in 2020 and 2022.