California. The California Crown Act updates the definition of “race” in the California Fair Employment and Housing Act and the California Education Code to be “inclusive of traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles.” In the state of California, the CROWN Act prevents employers from creating and enforcing grooming policies that they say are race neutral, but really affect protected classes negatively and unequally.  Louisiana. The Louisiana CROWN Act amends the definition of intentional discrimination in employment under Louisiana law to include any discriminatory practices with respect to any individual’s “compensation, or terms, conditions, or privileges of employment” because of “natural, protective, or cultural hairstyle.” The act adds these characteristics as a subset of discrimination based on race or national origin. See the law for more information. Massachusetts. The state bans discrimination based upon natural and protective hairstyles in workplaces, school districts and certain school-related organizations. Specifically, the new Massachusetts law prohibits discrimination on the basis of hair texture or hairstyles associated with race, including, but not limited to, natural and protective hairstyles, such as braids, locks, twists and Bantu knots. See the law for more information. New York. New York has also adopted its version of the CROWN Act. The New York City Commission on Human Rights can now impose a penalty on employers who harass, demote, or fire individuals because of their hair. Natural hair treated or untreated hairstyles such as loss, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots, fades, Afros, and/or the right to keep hair in an uncut or untrimmed state and included in the list of styles protected under the act.  New Jersey. New Jersey’s CROWN Act amends the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination so that the term “race” includes “traits historically associated with race, including hair texture, hair type and protective hairstyles.” Texas (Austin). The Austin, Texas CROWN act amends City Code to revise the definition of “Discriminatory Employment Practice” to include “Protective Hairstyles”. This means a hairstyle necessitated by, or resulting from, the characteristics of a hair texture or hairstyle commonly associated with race, national origin, ethnicity, or culture. See the ordinace for more information. Virginia. The Virginia Human Rights Act now includes hair-based discrimination under racial discrimination. The law, which went into effect on July 1, 2020, says that the terms "because of race" and "on the basis of race," listed in the Code of Virginia, include traits historically associated with race, including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locs, and twists.