October 4, 2019 - Introduced by Senators L. Taylor, Johnson, Wirch and Larson,
cosponsored by Representatives L. Myers, Zamarripa, Stubbs, Crowley,
Bowen, Spreitzer, Cabrera, Milroy, Sargent, Anderson, Haywood, Ohnstad,
Neubauer, Shankland, C. Taylor, Vining, Brostoff, Subeck, Considine,
Hesselbein, Fields, Hintz, Allen, Hebl and Emerson. Referred to Committee
on Labor and Regulatory Reform.

SB479,1,11 1An Act to renumber 15.04 (1) (g), 48.82 (1), 106.58, 118.13 (1), 118.20 (1), 230.18
2and 756.001 (1); and to create 15.04 (1) (g) 1., 16.70 (10p), 16.70 (10t), 36.05
3(10g), 36.05 (10r), 38.01 (6g), 38.01 (6r), 47.01 (4), 47.01 (4m), 48.82 (1d), 51.01
4(13g), 51.01 (13r), 66.1011 (1m) (f), 66.1011 (1m) (g), 66.1201 (3) (mg), 66.1201
5(3) (mr), 66.1301 (3) (pg), 66.1301 (3) (pr), 106.50 (1m) (pg), 106.50 (1m) (pr),
6106.52 (1) (dg), 106.52 (1) (er), 106.58 (1), 111.32 (12k), 111.32 (12L), 111.70 (1)
7(mg), 111.70 (1) (mr), 111.81 (15p), 111.81 (15u), 118.13 (1) (a), 118.20 (1) (a),
8118.40 (4) (ae), 194.01 (11m), 194.01 (12m), 224.71 (12g), 224.71 (12r), 227.01
9(10g), 227.01 (10r), 230.18 (1), 234.01 (11), 234.01 (12), 321.01 (10g), 321.01
10(10r), 440.40 (5g), 440.40 (5r), 600.03 (40g), 600.03 (40r) and 756.001 (1d) of the
11statutes; relating to: prohibiting discrimination based on hairstyle.

This bill makes changes to various areas of the law to prohibit discrimination
based on a person's hairstyle, including a “protective hairstyle,” which is defined in
the bill to include braids, locs, and twists. The bill also defines “race” to include traits
historically associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles.

Under current law, discrimination because of race is prohibited in employment,
housing, education, service as a juror, adoption, and the equal enjoyment of a public
place of accommodation or amusement. This bill prohibits discrimination based on
a person's hairstyle in employment, housing, education, service as a juror, adoption,
and the equal enjoyment of a public place of accommodation or amusement.