HB2742 • 2026

discrimination; prohibited; protective hairstyles

HB2742 - discrimination; prohibited; protective hairstyles

Education Labor

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Quantá Crews, Anna Abeytia, Cesar Aguilar, Patty Contreras, Brian Garcia, Nancy Gutierrez, Sarah Liguori, Christopher Mathis, Mae Peshlakai, Mariana Sandoval, Stephanie Simacek, Stephanie Stahl Hamilton, Stacey Travers, Betty J Villegas
Last action: 2026-01-21
Official status: House second read
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text confirms the bill passed both chambers but does not state if a governor has signed it or when it becomes effective.

HB2742: The CROWN Act on Protective Hairstyles

This law makes it illegal in Arizona for employers, labor groups, and private schools to treat people unfairly because of their protective hairstyles.

What This Bill Does

Makes discrimination based on protective hairstyles an unlawful employment practice.
Prohibits private schools from discriminating against students due to their hair texture or style.
Defines 'protective hairstyle' to include braids, locks, and twists of any length.
Expands the legal definition of race or ethnicity to cover traits like hair texture.
Adds new sections 41-1469 and 41-1492.13 to Arizona state law.

Who It Names or Affects

Employers, labor organizations, and training program committees in Arizona.
Private schools ranging from nurseries through postgraduate levels.
Individuals who wear protective hairstyles or have specific hair textures associated with their race.

Terms To Know

Protective hairstyle: Hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists of any length that protect natural hair texture.
Unlawful employment practice: An action by an employer or training group that breaks the law against discrimination based on protective hairstyles, race, or ethnicity.

Limits and Unknowns

The text does not list specific penalties for breaking this new rule.
The effective date is not included in the provided source material.
This summary only covers private schools and employers; it does not mention public school rules.

Bill History

2026-01-21 House
House second read
2026-01-20 House
House Rules: None
2026-01-20 House
House Commerce: None
2026-01-20 House
House first read

Official Summary Text

HB2742 - discrimination; prohibited; protective hairstyles

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB2742 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
discrimination; prohibited; protective hairstyles

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 2742

Introduced by

Representatives
Crews: Abeytia, Aguilar, Contreras P, Garcia, Gutierrez, Liguori, Mathis,
Peshlakai, Sandoval, Simacek, Stahl Hamilton, Travers, Villegas

AN
ACT

amending title 41, chapter 9, article 4,
Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 41-1469; amending title 41, chapter
9, article 8, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 41-1492.13; relating
to discrimination.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 41, chapter 9, article 4,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 41-1469, to read:

START_STATUTE
41-1469.

Unlawful employment practices; protective hairstyles; definitions

A. Notwithstanding any other law, it
is an unlawful employment practice for any employer, labor organization or
joint labor-management committee controlling apprenticeship or other training
or retraining programs, including on-the-job training programs, to
discriminate against any individual because of the individual's protective
hairstyle, race or ethnicity.

B. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Protective hairstyle"
includes such hairstyles as braids, locks and twists of any length.

2. "Race or ethnicity"
includes:

(
a
) Ancestry,
color, ethnic group identification and ethnic background.

(
b
) Traits that
are historically associated with race, including hair texture and protective
hairstyles.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Title 41, chapter 9, article 8, Arizona
Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 41-1492.13, to read:

START_STATUTE
41-1492.13.

Protective hairstyles; discrimination by schools prohibited;
definitions

A. Notwithstanding any other law, it
is unlawful for a nursery, elementary, secondary, undergraduate or postgraduate
private school or other place of education to discriminate against any
individual because of the individual's protective hairstyle, race or ethnicity.

B. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Protective hairstyle"
includes such hairstyles as braids, locks and twists of any length.

2. "Race or ethnicity"
includes:

(
a
) Ancestry,
color, ethnic group identification and ethnic background.

(
b
) Traits that
are historically associated with race, including hair texture and protective
hairstyles.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 3.
Short title

This act may be cited as the
"Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act".