SB225: SB225 Education; discrimination on the basis of an individual's race due to a protective hairstyle, or length thereof, in any student dress or grooming policy; prohibit

Georgia law does not currently spell out that hairstyles associated with a student's race, such as braids, locs, twists, or afros, are protected from discrimination in school dress and grooming codes. This bill adds a new section to Georgia's education code addressing that gap. It defines discrimination broadly to include exclusion, restriction, or differential treatment based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or age. It defines 'protective hairstyle' as braids, locs, twists, afros, or other textured hairstyles tied to race, and expands the legal definition of 'race' in this context to include hair texture and these hairstyles. Any educational institution that gets state financial assistance or enrolls students receiving state financial aid would be barred from discriminating against a student based on race because of a protective hairstyle or its length in any dress code, grooming policy, program, or activity. The bill repeals any conflicting laws but does not list a separate effective date.

• Adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 20-1-12) banning race-based discrimination tied to protective hairstyles in school dress or grooming policies.
• Defines 'protective hairstyle' to include braids, locs, twists, afros, or other textured hairstyles associated with race, color, or national origin.
• Expands the legal meaning of 'race' in this context to explicitly cover hair texture and protective hairstyles.
• Applies the ban to any educational institution that receives state financial assistance or enrolls students who get state student financial aid.
• Defines 'discrimination' broadly, covering exclusion, restriction, segregation, or differential treatment based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or age, with a religious accommodation exception.

Students at Georgia schools and colleges that receive state funding or enroll students with state financial aid, along with the administrators and staff who write and enforce dress codes and grooming policies at those institutions.

Students with braids, locs, twists, or afros would have explicit legal protection against being disciplined, excluded, or treated differently under school dress or grooming rules because of hairstyles tied to their race, affecting how schools write and enforce those policies.

• Section 1 adds new Code Section 20-1-12 to Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, covering general education provisions.
• Subsection (a)(1) defines 'discrimination' broadly and carves out a religious accommodation exception if accommodating an undue hardship on operations.
• Subsection (a)(3) defines 'protective hairstyle' as braids, locs, twists, afro, or other textured hairdressing tied to race, color, or national origin.
• Subsection (a)(4) redefines 'race' to explicitly include hair texture and protective hairstyles.
• Subsection (b) prohibits discrimination based on race due to protective hairstyle or its length in any student dress or grooming policy, program, or activity at covered institutions.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-02-21Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2025-02-20Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Tonya Anderson (D, SD-043)Primary sponsor
• Kim Jackson (D, SD-041)
• Nikki Merritt (D, SD-009)
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
• Freddie Sims (D, SD-012)
• Gail Davenport (D, SD-017)
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
• Derek Mallow (D, SD-002)
• Jason Esteves (D, SD-035)
• Randal Mangham (D, SD-055)
• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)
• Michael Rhett (D, SD-033)
• Sheikh Rahman (D, SD-005)
• Ed Harbison (D, SD-015)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)

• school dress codes
• hair discrimination
• student rights
• education law
• race discrimination