Pennsylvania House Bill 439, effective January 26, 2026, amends the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. The bill introduces protections against discrimination based on hairstyle and hair texture, and clarifies how workplace policies should be applied.
Generally speaking, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act prohibits discrimination in employment based on race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age, or national origin. It applies to employers, employment agencies, and labor organizations.
Definitions added under the amendment:
- Race: Includes traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles.
- Protective hairstyle: Includes, but is not limited to, locs, braids, twists, coils, Bantu knots, afros, and extensions.
- Religious creed: Includes head coverings and hairstyles connected to religious practices.
Note that employers may continue to enforce workplace health and safety rules or other policies if they are valid, necessary for the job, and applied for nondiscriminatory reasons.