West Virginia legislation · 2025 Regular Session
West Virginia HB3340: Prohibiting discrimination on the basis of hairstyle or texture
Status: Introduced, March 13, 2025
The purpose of this bill is to clarify that impermissible discrimination includes discrimination based on certain hair textures and styles.
What the bill says
To amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §5-11-22, relating to discrimination, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of hairstyle or texture. ARTICLE 11. HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION §5-11-22. Discrimination based on certain hair textures and hairstyles; definitions. (a) For the purposes of this article, impermissible discrimination is, but not limited to, discrimination based on hair textures and protective hairstyles historically associated with groups genetically inheriting textured hair to end the disparate impact of facially neutral pol.
From the introduced text, March 13, 2025:
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §5-11-22, relating to discrimination, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of hairstyle or texture. ARTICLE 11. HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION §5-11-22. Discrimination based on certain hair textures and hairstyles; definitions. (a) For the purposes of this article, impermissible discrimination is, but not limited to, discrimination based on hair textures and protective hairstyles historically associated with groups genetically inheriting textured hair to end the disparate impact of facially neutral policies upon those groups. (b) The term "protective hairstyles" are those hairstyles necessitated by, or resulting from, the immutable characteristics of hair texture allowing the management of textured hair in its natural state without heat or chemical treatment, such as braids, locks, afros, curls, and twists. "Locks" means a narrow ropelike strand of hair formed by matting, braiding, or twisting. "Braids" means a woven strands of hair. "Twists" means strands of hair twisted around one another, or a single section of hair twisted. "Afro" means a natural growth of curly or textured hair, in any length. (c) Institutional policies, rules, or guidelines imposing restrictions impacting textured hair may balance the restrictions against legitimate safety hazards if the restrictions would also apply to people without textured hair or utilizing protective hairstyles. Plaintiffs making a claim under this …