On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, the Pennsylvania Legislature passed the CROWN Act by an overwhelming majority. The Act has been sent to Governor Shapiro and he is expected to sign it before Thanksgiving.

The CROWN Act, which amends the definition of “race” and “religious creed” in the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA), prohibits discrimination based on hair types, styles and textures that are associated with race as well as head coverings associated with certain religions. For example, the Act calls out certain hair styles and types—braids, locs, twists, boils, Bantu knots and afros—that will now be protected in Pennsylvania. The title of the Act is an acronym, which stands for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair.”

The Act’s co-sponsors, Representatives Mayes and McClinton, noted in their co-sponsorship memo that employers (as well as schools and other public spaces) historically denied opportunities and access to Black Americans for hairstyles deemed inappropriate, unacceptable or unprofessional. The CROWN Act provides protections to Black Americans with natural hair or primarily black hairstyles, as well as head coverings and hairstyles historically associated with religion.

Notably, the CROWN Act does not prohibit employers from enacting hairstyle or head covering restrictions when such restrictions are for valid workplace health or safety reasons or as part of a bona fide occupational qualification.  For employers who maintain such restrictive policies, they must demonstrate all of the following:

• Without the adoption of the rule or policy, the health or safety of an employee or other materially connected person may be impaired;
• The rule or policy is adopted for nondiscriminatory reasons;
• The rule or policy is specifically tailored to the applicable position and activity; and
• The rule or policy is applied equally to individuals whose positions fall under the applicable position and activity.

With the passage of the CROWN Act, Pennsylvania joins several neighboring states (Delaware, New Jersey and New York, for example) as well as the cities of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, who previously enacted CROWN Act laws.  By way of reminder, because the Pennsylvania CROWN Act amends the PHRA, it will apply to employers, labor organizations and employment agencies with four or more employees in Pennsylvania.  The Act will become effective 60 days after it is signed by the Governor.

If you have questions about your current policies as they relate to hairstyles or head coverings, please reach out to any member of the McNees Labor and Employment Group.