Maine: The CROWN Act (LD2018)
Adopted: April 2022 Bill Number: LD2018 Governor: Janet Mills Status: Enacted
Maine enacted its CROWN Act in April 2022 when Governor Janet Mills signed LD2018, extending hair discrimination protections to the northernmost reach of the East Coast. The legislation prohibits discrimination based on natural hair texture and protective hairstyles.
Key Provisions
Maine Human Rights Act amendment. LD2018 amends Maine’s Human Rights Act to include hair texture and protective hairstyles within the definition of race-based protections.
Employment and public accommodation. The legislation covers employment, housing, education, and public accommodation, consistent with Maine’s existing anti-discrimination framework.
Maine Human Rights Commission. The commission has jurisdiction to investigate hair-related discrimination complaints filed under the amended act.
Maine Context
Maine’s adoption demonstrated the CROWN Act’s relevance even in states with smaller Black populations. With approximately 22,000 Black residents, Maine’s Black community is smaller than in many other CROWN Act states, but the legislation addressed real discrimination experienced by individuals in communities where they are a visible minority.
Portland and Lewiston, which have received significant numbers of African immigrants in recent decades, are centres of Maine’s growing diversity. For these communities, hair discrimination in employment and schools is a tangible barrier to integration and economic participation.
Maine’s enactment in 2022 continued the CROWN Act movement’s steady expansion. For the complete timeline, see the CROWN Act timeline. For the evidence base informing these legislative decisions, see Data Behind the CROWN Act.
For detailed legal analysis of Maine’s CROWN Act provisions, contact [email protected].