House Bill 955 Summary

• Prohibits employers, schools, school districts, and administrators from creating dress codes or policies that ban natural hairstyles including afros, braids, twists, and locks in the workplace or during school hours.

• Prohibits discrimination against employees or students based on natural hairstyles in hiring, compensation, promotions, discipline, expulsion, or any employment or educational decisions.

• Establishes civil remedies for violations including unpaid wages, liquidated damages, compensatory damages, punitive damages (when malice or reckless indifference is shown), attorney's fees, and other equitable relief.

• Allows civil actions to be filed within two (2) years of the discriminatory practice and permits group or class action lawsuits by affected employees or students.

• Amends Mississippi Code sections 25-9-149 and 25-9-103 to add "natural hairstyles" to protected categories in state employment discrimination protections.