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Bills › 91st General Assembly

SF 318Died when the session ended · February 13, 2025

Prohibiting discrimination based on an individual’s texture or style of hair

Sponsored by Sen. Izaah Knox (D)

Topics:Civil rights

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Official bill pageLobbyist declarationsOne-pager to print

Where it is now

  1. Done: IntroducedFebruary 13, 2025
  2. Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 20, 2025
  3. Stopped: Senate committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
  4. Next: Passes the Senate
  5. Next: House committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
  6. Next: Passes the House
  7. Next: To the Governor
  8. Next: Signed into law

Died when the session ended The 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

AI summary Iowa would add new protections to prevent people from being treated unfairly because of their natural or protective hairstyles, such as braids, locs, or afros. These rules would apply to schools, jobs, housing, and many other public places. This change ensures that discrimination based on hair texture or type linked to race is prohibited.1

Read the official explanation

This bill provides an additional prohibition against discrimination in schools, workplaces, housing, places of public accommodations, and other contexts on the basis of hair texture, hair type, and natural or protective hairstyles that are historically and commonly associated with race.4 (fair employment practices). §1981(c), based upon the person’s natural or protective hairstyle, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, ancestry, or disability. The bill provides that discrimination on the basis of race includes discrimination on the basis of natural or protective hairstyles. The bill defines “natural or protective hairstyles” to include but is not limited to braids, locs, twists, tight coils or curls, cornrows, bantu knots, afros, and headwraps.

Full bill text2

Senate subcommittee

Named February 20, 2025. It hasn’t reported yet.

Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part

Iowa Code it changes

Creates§216.23

Amends§15A.1§19B.1§216.2§256.2§256B.2§256E.2§256F.2§261A.4§279.58§280.2§341A.1§400.17§602.1401§729.4§8A.416

How the Code works3

Lobbying

1 for · 0 against · 0 undecided · Who →

Family tree

Tried before

HF 471Cleared committee89th GAHF 2110Cleared committee89th GA

91st General Assembly

SF 318Cleared committee

Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.

Tried before

This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None got through a chamber.

  • HF 2110 Prohibiting discrimination based on an individual’s texture or style of hair
    89th General Assembly · In committee · same title
    Cleared committee
  • HF 471 Prohibiting discrimination based on an individual’s texture or style of hair
    89th General Assembly · In committee · same title
    Cleared committee

Matched by wording or an identical title.