HB 668 Summary: CROWN Act

• Enacts the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act to prohibit discrimination based on hair texture and protective hairstyles including braids, locks, and twists

• Defines "race" to include traits associated with an individual's race, specifically hair texture and protective hair styles, across all sections of Ohio Revised Code addressing discrimination

• Applies anti-discrimination protections to all public and private primary and secondary schools, preschools, community schools, STEM schools, and college-preparatory boarding schools

• Allows individuals to bring civil actions in court against schools that violate the hair discrimination prohibition

• Amends sections 3314.03, 3326.11, 3328.24, and 4112.01 and enacts new section 3319.48 to incorporate these protections into existing education and employment discrimination law