SB50 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rodger SmithermanSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Discrimination, hair and ethnicity, relating to discrimination, to prohibit discrimination in employment, public accommodations, housing, and to create cause of action against employer who discriminates

Summary

SB50 would ban discrimination based on hairstyle in employment, public accommodations, housing, and financial assistance, and create a legal remedy for those affected.

What This Bill Does

It makes it illegal for employers to discriminate against applicants or employees based on hair texture or hairstyle commonly associated with race or ethnicity, and lets individuals sue employers for violations with remedies like back pay, damages, and attorney fees. It also prohibits discrimination in public accommodations, housing, and programs receiving state or federal financial assistance because of hairstyle, and adds protections against retaliation for people who pursue these rights. The bill defines key terms (hairstyle, hair texture, race/ethnicity) and sets up enforcement through a private right of action with clear remedies and no court costs for plaintiffs, becoming effective several months after passage.

Who It Affects

• Employees and job applicants (and employment-related entities) would be protected from hairstyle- or hair texture-based discrimination and could file private lawsuits.
• People seeking housing, using public accommodations, or participating in programs that receive state or federal financial assistance would be protected from hairstyle-based discrimination.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits employment discrimination based on hairstyle or hair texture commonly associated with race or ethnicity and creates a private right of action against employers, including remedies such as back wages, damages, liquidated damages for willful acts, and attorney fees; also prohibits retaliation.
• Extends protections to public accommodations, housing, and programs receiving state or federal financial assistance by prohibiting discrimination based on hairstyle; includes definitions of hairstyle, hair texture, race/ethnicity, and sets the act's effective date.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Discrimination