House committee advances Pennsylvania Crown Act to bar discrimination based on natural hair

Representative Mays told the House State Government Committee that House Bill 439, the Pennsylvania Crown Act, would amend the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to expand protections against racial discrimination based on hair type, texture and hairstyle. The committee voted to report the bill out of committee.

Representative Mays urged passage and described prior bipartisan support: a previous version (House Bill 1394) passed the House on July 7, 2023, by a vote of 182–21. He said the bill protects Pennsylvanians’ ability to wear natural hairstyles without being denied employment, educational or public accommodations. Mays said the bill would include workplace health and safety language to assist employers in implementing policies.

Members spoke in favor across party lines. Representative Probst said the bill opened lawmakers’ eyes to a problem many had not personally experienced and praised the bipartisan support it received in 2023. Representative Green recounted a personal experience of hair discrimination at age 21 and said he would vote in favor. Chair Diamond and other members praised Mays’ work and noted outreach to business groups; the sponsor named over 30 endorsing organizations, including local governments, unions and human‑rights advocates.

Representative Mays cited support from the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and a coalition that includes the Pittsburgh Penguins, the city of York, AFSCME District Council 13, Pittsburgh Firefighters and the Education Law Center. He said chambers of commerce and other business groups had been consulted and that the bill’s language had been adjusted from the previous session based on those conversations.

The committee moved and seconded consideration of House Bill 439; after roll call the motion passed and the bill was reported out of committee. The transcript records members’ oral support and the committee vote as "motion passes" but does not provide a compiled numeric roll‑call tally in the excerpt provided.

If enacted, the bill would amend the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to add hair texture, type and hairstyle as protected characteristics; the bill as considered is descriptive and advisory until enacted into law.