Governor Josh Shapiro of Abington Township signed off today on House Bill 439, more commonly known as the CROWN (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) Act, which prohibits discrimination based on a person’s hairstyle, type or texture in schools and places of employment.

The new law specifically aims to tackle discrimination against hairstyles such as braids, locs and twists. Pennsylvania is reportedly the 28th state to pass a version of the CROWN Act.

“To build a Pennsylvania that respects you for who you are, no matter what you look like, where you come from, who you love or who you pray to. That is what we are collectively building here in the Commonwealth,” Shapiro said. “With The CROWN Act, I hope that more Pennsylvanians know that, here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, their government has got their backs. Now, if they endure discrimination based on who they are or what they look like or how they wear their hair, they will be fully protected under the nondiscrimination laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”

CBS News’ video coverage is below:

Shapiro recently signed five other bipartisan bills into law as well.

House Bill 923 amends the State Lottery Law to extend a Social Security cost of living adjustment moratorium scheduled to expire on December 31 of this year. 

House Bill 1176 increases the maximum amount of unclaimed property an heir can claim from the Pennsylvania Treasury using a notarized relationship affidavit from $11,000 to $20,000. 

House Bill 1359 allows self-storage facility owners to send an electronic rental agreement, which becomes enforceable within 30 days of the document’s delivery, whether or not the renter signs the document.

Senate Bill 88 expands on a previous law and requires insurance companies to cover  breast cancer screenings and diagnostics with no out-of-pocket costs for average- and high-risk women.

Senate Bill 520 authorizes the use of body cameras by special agents with the Office of Attorney General, rangers with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and officers and deputies with the Pennsylvania Game and the Fish and Boat commissions.

Shapiro signed two other bills into law earlier this month, and 34 bills into law in July.

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