North Carolina legislation · 2025-2026 Session
North Carolina S897: NC CROWN Act.
Status: Introduced, April 30, 2026
What the bill says
An act to enact the north carolina crown act to create a respectful and open world for natural hair.
From the introduced text:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO ENACT THE NORTH CAROLINA CROWN ACT TO CREATE A RESPECTFUL AND OPEN WORLD FOR NATURAL HAIR. The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: SECTION 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "North Carolina CROWN Act." SECTION 2. Article 3 of Chapter 95 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read: "§ 95-28.1B. Discrimination against persons in employment. (a) No person, firm, corporation, unincorporated association, State agency, unit of local government, or any public or private entity shall deny or refuse employment to any person or discharge any person from employment on account of the person's race, color, creed, religion, sex, or national origin. (b) The following definitions apply in this section: (1) Protective hairstyles. - Includes, but is not limited to, such hairstyles as bantu knots, braids, locks, and twists. (2) Race. - Includes traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles." SECTION 3. G.S. 95-241(a) reads as rewritten: "(a) No person shall discriminate or take any retaliatory action against an employee because the employee in good faith does or threatens to do any of the following: (1) File a claim or complaint, initiate any inquiry, investigation, inspection, proceeding or other action, or …
Sponsors
- Murdock, Natalie S. (D, 20) · primary sponsor
- Smith, Kandie D. (D, 5) · primary sponsor
- Salvador, DeAndrea (D, 39) · primary sponsor
- Applewhite, Val (D, 19)
- Chitlik, Sophia (D, 22)
- Mohammed, Mujtaba A. (D, 38)
- Theodros, Caleb (D, 41)
- Waddell, Joyce (D, 40)
Latest actions
- : Re-ref Com On Appropriations/Base Budget
- : Withdrawn From Com
- : Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
- : Passed 1st Reading
- : Filed
Subjects: MINORITIES, BUDGETING, EMPLOYMENT, DISCRIMINATION, PUBLIC, BARBERS & COSMETOLOGISTS, PERSONNEL, LABOR DEPT.
Common questions
- What is S897?
- S897 is a bill in the North Carolina Legislature (2025-2026 Session): NC CROWN Act.
- What does S897 do?
- In its own words: An act to enact the north carolina crown act to create a respectful and open world for natural hair.
- What is the status of S897?
- Introduced as of April 30, 2026. Latest action: Re-ref Com On Appropriations/Base Budget (April 30, 2026).
- Who sponsored S897?
- Murdock, Natalie S. (D, 20), with 7 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for S897?
- On the North Carolina Legislature website: https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/S897
Source: official North Carolina record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.