Florida HB 235: Prohibited Discrimination Based on Hairstyle

Bill Text

HB 235 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb235-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to prohibited discrimination based on 2
hairstyle; providing a short title; amending s. 3
1000.05, F.S.; defining the term "protected 4
hairstyle"; prohibiting discrimination based on 5
protected hairstyle against a student in the K-20 6
public education system; conforming provisions to 7
changes made by the act; amending s. 1002.20, F.S.; 8
defining the terms "race" and "protected hairstyle" 9
for purposes of public K-12 nondiscrimination 10
requirements; amending s. 1002.421, F.S.; defining the 11
terms "race" and "protected hairstyle" for purposes of 12
antidiscrimination requirements for private schools 13
participating in the state school choice scholarship 14
program; providing an effective date. 15
16
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 17
18
Section 1. This act may be cited as the "Creating a 19
Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act" or "CROWN Act." 20
Section 2. Subsection (2) of section 1000.05, Florida 21
Statutes, is amended to read: 22
1000.05 Discrimination against students and employees in 23
the Florida K-20 public education system prohibited; equality of 24
access required.— 25

HB 235 2026

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hb235-00
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(2)(a) As used in this section, the term "protected 26
hairstyle" means hair characteristics historically associated 27
with race, such as hair texture and styles, including, but not 28
limited to, afros, braids, locks, or twists. 29
(b) Discrimination on the basis of race, color, national 30
origin, sex, disability, religion, or marital status against a 31
student or an employee in the state system of public K-20 32
education is prohibited. No person in this state shall, on the 33
basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, 34
religion, or marital status, be excluded from participation in, 35
be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination 36
under any public K-20 education program or activity, or in any 37
employment conditions or practices, conducted by a public 38
educational institution that receives or benefits from federal 39
or state financial assistance. Additionally, discrimination 40
based on a protected hairstyle against a student in the state 41
system of public K-20 education is prohibited. A student may not 42
be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or 43
subjected to discrimination under any public K-20 education 44
program or activity on the basis of a protected hairstyle. 45
(c)(b) The criteria for admission to a program or course 46
may shall not have the effect of restricting access by students 47
persons of a particular race, color, national origin, sex, 48
disability, religion, or marital status or with a protected 49
hairstyle. 50

HB 235 2026

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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

(d)(c) All public K-20 education classes must shall be 51
available to all students without regard to race, color, 52
protected hairstyle, national origin, sex, disability, religion, 53
or marital status; however, this is not intended to eliminate 54
the provision of programs designed to meet the needs of students 55
with limited proficiency in English, gifted students, or 56
students with disabilities or programs tailored to students with 57
specialized talents or skills. 58
(e)(d) Students may be separated by sex for a single-59
gender program, for any portion of a class that deals with human 60
reproduction, or during participation in bodily contact sports. 61
For the purpose of this section, bodily contact sports include 62
wrestling, boxing, rugby, ice hockey, football, basketball, and 63
other sports in which the purpose or major activity involves 64
bodily contact. 65
(f)(e) Guidance services, counseling services, and 66
financial assistance services in the state public K-20 education 67
system shall be available to students equally. Guidance and 68
counseling services, materials, and promotional events shall 69
stress access to academic and career opportunities for students 70
without regard to race, color, protected hairstyle, national 71
origin, sex, disability, religion, or marital status. 72
Section 3. Subsection (7) of section 1002.20, Florida 73
Statutes, is amended to read: 74
1002.20 K-12 student and parent rights.—Parents of public 75

HB 235 2026

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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

school students must receive accurate and timely information 76
regarding their child's academic progress and must be informed 77
of ways they can help their child