What happened?

On July 1, 2025, Governor Dan McKee signed legislation (H5841) into law, expanding Rhode Island’s anti-discrimination protections to include traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles.

Overview:

What the Law Does: The new law updates the definition of “race” in Rhode Island’s anti-discrimination statutes—including employment, education, and civil rights laws—to include:

• Hair texture
• Protective hairstyles like Afros, braids, twists, cornrows, Bantu knots, and locs

While the law specifically mentions hairstyles, it may also apply to other cultural traits such as dialect or traditional dress.

What Employers Should Do

• Update your EEO policy to reflect the expanded definition of race.
• Review grooming and appearance policies to ensure they do not restrict protected hairstyles, even indirectly (e.g., through length requirements).
• Train managers and hiring staff to avoid making assumptions about professionalism or cultural fit based on hairstyle.

This law aligns Rhode Island with other states adopting CROWN Act-style protections, aiming to eliminate race-based hair discrimination in the workplace and beyond.

Source References

• Rhode Island HB 5841 – Relating To Education – Offenses Pertaining To Schools

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