Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
                                              Office of Research                             Legislative Budget
         www.lsc.ohio.gov                       and Drafting                                       Office
                               H.B. 178                            Bill Analysis
                  135th   General Assembly
                                                                    Click here for H.B. 178’s Fiscal Note
Version: As Passed by the House
Primary Sponsors: Reps. Brent and Callender
Effective Date:
Mariah M. Maldovan, Attorney
                                                         SUMMARY
                     Prohibits public K-12 schools and public preschools from discriminating against a
                          student with respect to any program or activity because of traits associated with a
                          student’s race, including hair texture and protective hair styles, such as braids, locks,
                          and twists.
                     Allows a student alleging a public school or public preschool has discriminated against
                          the student based on traits associated with the student’s race to sue in any court having
                          jurisdiction.
                                               DETAILED ANALYSIS
Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair
(CROWN) Act
        The bill, titled the “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN)
Act,”1 prohibits public K-12 schools and all public preschools from discriminating against any
student with respect to any program or activity because of traits associated with the student’s
race. Under the bill, “race” includes traits associated with an individual’s race, including hair
texture and protective hair styles, such as braids, locks, and twists.
        A student alleging a public school or public preschool discriminated against the student
in violation of the bill may sue in any court of competent jurisdiction.2
1                 Section 6.
2R.C. 3319.48, by reference to R.C. Chapters 3314, 3326, and 3328, and R.C. 2950.034, not in the bill,
with conforming changes in R.C. 3314.03, 3326.11, and 3328.24.
                                                                                                            July 15, 2024
Office of Research and Drafting         LSC                 Legislative Budget Office
                                      HISTORY
                             Action                        Date
Introduced                                      05-22-23
Reported, H. Civil Justice                      06-10-24
Passed House (83-8)                             06-12-24
ANHB0178PH-135/ks
P a g e |2                                                                  H.B. 178
                                                             As Passed by the House
Statutes affected: 
As Introduced: 3314.03, 3326.11, 3328.24, 4112.01
As Reported By House Committee: 3314.03, 3326.11, 3328.24
As Passed By House: 3314.03, 3326.11, 3328.24