House Bill 178
Summary of HB 178
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DESCRIPTION
Enacts the CROWN (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) Act to prohibit discrimination against an individual based on hair texture and protective hair styles. TARGETS Public and chartered nonpublic K-12 schools Public and private preschools |
PRIMARY SPONSOR(S)
Reps. Juanita Brent and Jamie Callender COMMITTEE House Civil Justice Committee STATUS Introduced: May 22, 2024 Passed House: Passed Senate: HEARINGS Watch Hearings | Read Testimony BILL General Info | Bill Text | Analysis Amendments |
What does HB 178 do?
HB 178 makes it an unlawful discriminatory practice under Ohio’s Civil Rights Law to discriminate against an individual because of traits associated with an individual’s race, including hair texture and protective hair styles, such as braids, dreadlocks, and twists, in a public or private primary or secondary school.
Impact on Schools
No public or private primary or secondary school would be permitted to discriminate against any individual with respect to any program or activity on account of traits that are associated with the individual's race.
Any individual alleging that a public or private primary or secondary school has violated this law would be able to bring a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction.
Bill Definitions
"Race" includes “traits associated with an individual's race, including hair texture and protective hair styles, such as braids, locks, and twists.”
"Public or private primary or secondary school" includes all of the following:
Civil Rights Commission Definitions
The bill adds “traits associated with an individual's race, including hair texture and protective hair styles, such as braids, locks, and twists” to the list of Civil rights commission definitions — meaning it would become illegal to discriminate against Ohioans based on these traits when it comes to employment, housing, or any other service listed here in current law.
No public or private primary or secondary school would be permitted to discriminate against any individual with respect to any program or activity on account of traits that are associated with the individual's race.
Any individual alleging that a public or private primary or secondary school has violated this law would be able to bring a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction.
Bill Definitions
"Race" includes “traits associated with an individual's race, including hair texture and protective hair styles, such as braids, locks, and twists.”
"Public or private primary or secondary school" includes all of the following:
- A preschool as defined in ORC 2950.034
- A school operated by a city, local, or exempted village school district, a joint vocational school district, a community school established under ORC 3314
- a STEM school established under ORC 3326
- a college-preparatory boarding school established under ORC 3328
- A chartered nonpublic school as defined in ORC 3310.01
Civil Rights Commission Definitions
The bill adds “traits associated with an individual's race, including hair texture and protective hair styles, such as braids, locks, and twists” to the list of Civil rights commission definitions — meaning it would become illegal to discriminate against Ohioans based on these traits when it comes to employment, housing, or any other service listed here in current law.
What is our position on HB 178?
SUPPORT
- Honesty believes that every child, no matter their background, deserves a high-quality education in environments that are safe and supportive. HB 178 would ensure that all students feel confident in their own skin and comfortable with the hair that grows naturally on their head.
- The Dove 2021 CROWN Research Study for Girls found that a startling 66% of Black girls in majority-white schools had reported experiencing hair discrimination. 87% of these experiences had occurred before they reached 12 years old.
- Black and brown students should never lose access to education for protecting and maintaining the hair that grows naturally on top of their head.
- Far too often, a lack of understanding of natural hairstyles worn by Black students combined with implicit biases against some hair types have led to the removal of Black children from the classroom or from important school activities.
- “Black students are more likely to be suspended for discretionary reasons such as dress code or long hair violations, neither of which have been found to be predictive of student misconduct.” -Brookings Institute
- Unnecessary suspensions can lead to poor academic performance, increased dropout rates, increased arrest rates, and other preventable outcomes.
- Black and brown students should never be forced to use harmful chemicals or damaging heat straighteners on their natural hair in an attempt to meet dress codes written for white children.
News & Resources
- Cleveland NAACP travels to Columbus to advocate for the CROWN Act, to ban hair discrimination
- Could Ohio ban hair discrimination? Behind the years-long fight to pass the CROWN Act
- CROWN Act would ban discrimination based on Black hairstyles throughout Ohio
- The CROWN Act: A jewel for combating racial discrimination in the workplace and classroom
- Ohio lawmakers push for the CROWN Act, HB 178, to ban hair discrimination
- Bills Pending in Ohio Legislature Seeks to Uplift Black Community
- Celebrate your crowning glory this Crown Day
- Empowering women, celebrating natural hairstyles during CROWN Act Hair Story event
- Akron law firm seeks justice after man has to choose between his job and hairstyle
TESTIMONY
*** Do not submit testimony until the proper hearing is announced. ***
HOW TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY
STEP 1:
PREPARE YOUR TESTIMONY
Read tips for preparing and submitting testimony HERE
STEP 2:
EMAIL TESTIMONY DOCUMENTS TO COMMITTEE
Email a PDF of your testimony & this completed Witness Slip to [email protected] and [email protected]
**IMPORTANT**
Do NOT send your testimony until the appropriate hearing is announced.
You must submit your testimony 24 hours ahead of the scheduled hearing.
Indicate in your email that you are submitting testimony and ask for a confirmation of receipt.
All testimony will be uploaded HERE
STEP 3:
ARRIVE EARLY FOR IN-PERSON TESTIMONY
Arrive at least 1 hour prior to the scheduled hearing
There is convenient parking in the Statehouse Parking Garage