Texas 2023 88th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB878 Introduced / Bill

Filed 02/14/2023

                    By: Eckhardt S.B. No. 878


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the prohibition of housing discrimination on the basis
 of hair texture or protective hairstyle associated with race.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 301, Property Code, is
 amended by adding Section 301.0045 to read to read as follows:
 Sec. 301.0045. DISCRIMINATION BASED ON HAIR TEXTURE OR
 PROTECTIVE HAIRSTYLE OR COVERINGS.  (a) In this section,
 "protective hairstyle or coverings" means a hairstyle, facial hair
 style, or head covering necessitated by, or resulting from, the
 characteristics of a hair texture, hairstyle, facial hair style, or
 head covering commonly associated with race, religion, national
 origin, ethnicity, or culture, and includes but is not limited to
 afros, bantu knots, braids, burqas, cornrows, curls, locs,
 headscarves, hijabs, pagri, twits, or hair that is tightly coiled
 or tightly curled.
 (b) A provision in this chapter, other than a provision in
 Subchapter I, referring to discrimination because of or on the
 basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, or on
 includes discrimination because of or on the basis of a person's
 hair texture or protective hairstyle commonly or historically
 associated with race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, or
 culture.
 SECTION 2.  Section 301.0045, Property Code, as added by
 this Act, applies only to a discriminatory housing practice that
 occurs on or after the effective date of this Act.
 SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.